HISTOEY 


OF    THE 


CAMPAIGN  OF  MOBILE 


INCLUDING  THE   COOPERATIVE   OPERATIONS 


OF 


GEN.  WILSON'S  CAVALRY   IN  ALABAMA. 


BY 

BREVET  MAJOR-GEN EKAL  C.  C,  ANDREWS, 

LATE  COMMANDING  THE   SECOND    DIVISION,   THIRTEENTH    ARMY  CORPS,   U.   S.   VOLS. 


WITH  MAPS  AND   ILLUSTRATIONS. 


SECOND    EDITION, 


NEW   YORK: 

D.  VAN  NOSTRAND    COMPANY. 
LONDON:    TKftBNER  &  CO. 

1889. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1866, 
BY   D.    VAN   NOSTRAND, 

In  the  Clerk's  office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for  the  Southern  District  of 

New  York. 


PREFACE  TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION. 


ON  the  occasion  of  issuing  the  second  edition  of  this  history 
it  may  be  of  interest  to  state  that  I  commenced  collecting 
materials  for  the  work  at  Washington  City  in  the  beginning 
of  the  year  1866,  and  remained  there  nearly  all  of  that  year, 
exclusively  engaged  in  preparing  it  for  the  press.  I  sent  out,  at 
the  start,  specific  requests  for  information,  not  only  to  com 
manders  of  divisions,  brigades,  regiments,  and  batteries  which 
took  part  in  the  campaign,  but  to  a  number  of  others  who  were 
found  to  possess  interesting  facts.  The  responses  to  these  re 
quests  were  generally  prompt  and  full,  and  so  intelligent  and 
circumstantial  as  to  inspire  confidence.  Occasionally  the  first 
reply  would  lead  to  more  searching  inquiries.  The  result  was 
that,  from  the  best  Union  and  Confederate  sources,  and  while 
the  facts  were  fresh  in  the  minds  of  the  writers,  I  received  a 
large  number  of  communications  making  in  the  aggregate  sev 
eral  hundred  pages.  These  original  papers  are  still  in  my  pos 
session,  and  I  hope  some  time  to  deposit  them  in  a  public  library 
that  is  fire-proof. 

That  no  pains  should  be  spared  on  my  part  to  make  the  work 
as  accurate  and  complete  as  possible,  I,  in  the  month  of  May, 
1866,  accompanied  by  a  conscientious  and  competent  artist  (Mr. 
Dielman),  went  from  Washington  and  revisited  the  battle-fields 
of  Spanish  Fort  and  Blakely.  We  remained  about  ten  days  at 

250853 


IV  PREFACE. 

the  little  village  of  Blakely,  busily  occupied,  the  artist  making 
sketches  with  pencil — some  of  which  are  reproduced  in  the 
work — and  I  in  verifying  the  field  fortifications  and  obtaining 
data  for  an  accurate  topographical  map  of  the  battle-field.  Only 
one  day  was  spent  at  Spanish  Fort,  the  U.  S.  Engineers'  map  of 
the  works  there  being  satisfactory.  We  were  favored  the  whole 
time  with  clear  summer  weather.  The  native  foliage  at  Blakely 
was  magnificent,  and  such  wild  fruit  as  the  running  blackberry 
was  ripe  and  abundant.  As  only  about  a  year  had  passed  since 
the  assault,  the  whole  place  had  for  me  a  deep  and  peculiar 
interest.  On  this  trip  I  had  pleasant  interviews  with  several 
ex-Confederate  officers  at  Montgomery,  Mobile,  and  New  Or 
leans,  arid  received  from  them  interesting  and  valuable  informa 
tion  in  regard  to  the  campaign.  At  New  Orleans  I  also  met 
Gen.  Canby,  then  commanding  the  Department  of  Louisiana, 
Shortly  afterwards  he  was  called  to  Washington  and  entered 
upon  duty  in  the  War  Department,  and  while  thus  engaged  he 
gave  me  free  access  to  the  letter  and  dispatch  record-books  used 
by  the  Confederate  commanders  at  Blakely  and  Spanish  Fort, 
which,  of  course,  proved  uncommonly  valuable  sources  of 
information.  Numerous  extracts  from  those  records  are 
printed  as  foot-notes. 

The  military  maps  used  in  this  work  were  engraved  on  cop 
per-plate  by  a  very  skilful  engraver  accustomed  to  doing  nice 
work  for  the  U.  S.  Coast  Survey  Office. 

While  the  literary  quality  of  the  work  is  not  all  that  I  could 
wish,  I  would  state  that  among  the  very  few  books  I  had  with 
me  and  habitually  read  during  the  last  two  years  of  the  war  was 


PR  EF  A  C  E.  V 

%<  Napier's  History  of  the  War  in  the  Peninsula,"  and  that 
I  tried  to  model  the  present  volume  on  his  style.  I  was  not 
then  aware,  however,  that  he  had  rewritten  his  first  volume  as 
many  as  six  times,  nor  that  competent  judges  regarded  his  work 
as  the  best  military  history  in  the  English  language. 

On  my  asking  Gen.  Canby  to  tell  me  of  any  mistake  I  had 
made,  the  only  criticism  I  remember  of  his  making  was  that  I 
had  attached  too  much  importance  to  Mobile  as  the  objective 
point,  the  purpose  of  his  campaign  being  to  occupy  central  as 
well  as  southern  Alabama. 

A  letter  from  Gen.  Geo.  II.  Thomas  to  the  publisher  in  re 
gard  to  the  work,  dated  Louisville,  February  15,  1867,  states 
that  after  his  army  was  assembled  on  the  Tennessee  River  after 
the  Nashville  campaign,  it  was  his  intention,  if  authorized,  to 
move  on  Selma,  and  with  that  view  he  gave  full  instructions  to 
Gen.  "Wilson  as  to  the  movement  of  his  cavalry  in  support. 
The  subsequent  movement  by  Wilson  in  support  of  Canby  was 
executed,  Gen.  Thomas  states,  pursuant  to  those  instructions. 

Shortly  after  the  work  was  issued  I  received  a  letter  from 
Gen.  R.  L.  Gibson,  dated  New  Orleans,  January  19,  1867,  and 
which  is  now  before  me,  pointing  out  a  few  inaccuracies,  but 
more  particularlv  assuring  me  that  I  had  over-estimated  the  nu 
merical  strength  of  the  Spanish  Fort  garrison.  He  states  that 
up  to  the  arrival  of  the  two  brigades  of  Holtzclaw  and  Ector 
(the  latter  commanded  by  Col.  Andrews)  he  only  had  Thomas's 
brigade  of  Alabama  Eeserves  and  Gibson's  brigade  (the  latter 
commanded  by  Col.  Francis  Lee  Campbell),  which  together  did 
not  comprise  fifteen  hundred  muskets.  Thomas's  brigade, 


VI  PREFACE. 

which  was  as  large  as  any  two  others,  was  withdrawn  to  Blakely 
after  the  arrival  of  the  brigades  of  Holtzclaw  and  Ector;   and  at 
no   time,  even  during  the  exchange  of  troops,   and   including 
working  parties  and  servants  and  all  others,  did  he  have  as  many 
as  three  thousand  five  hundred.     Col.  Campbell  commanded  the 
right  wing   and    Gen.  Holtzclaw   the  left  wing.     The  lack  of 
force  rendered  it  impossible  to  complete  the  defensive  works  on 
the  left.     Gen.  Gibson,  immediately  011  taking  command  of  the 
garrison,  thoroughly  explored   the  marshes  and  settled  on  the 
mode  of  retreat  whenever  it  should  become  necessary.     The  in 
structions  under  which  he  acted  were  not  to  hold  on  a  moment 
beyond   his  ability  to  save  the  troops.     He  entrusted  to  Col. 
Campbell,  who  had  seen  more  service  than  any  other  of  the  com 
manders,  the  final  dispositions  to  secure  the  retreat ;   and  the 
rear-guard  acted  under  Gen.  Gibson's  personal  orders.     Not  a 
thousand,  but  only  about  two  hundred  men,   his  letter  states, 
went  up  the  marsh  to  Blakely,  and.  they  were  under  the  com 
mand  of  Col.  Bush  Jones.    Gen.  Gibson  states  that  "had  the  two 
first  regiments  ordered  to  the  extreme  left  not  been  delayed  for 
a  few  moments  by  one  of  those  accidents  that  nothing  can   pro 
vide  against — a  report  that  the  enemy  was  driven  back  and  was 
attacking  in  force  on  the  right — they  would  have  checked  your 
progress  earlier ;  but  even  had  you  not  penetrated  my  line  at  all 
on  the  left,  under  my  orders  and  the  aspect  of  things,  I  should 
have  withdrawn  that  night  under  the  belief  that  Gen.  Canby 
was  close  enough  to  assault  with  but  trifling  loss,  and  that  a  con 
centration  of  forces  was  necessary  for  the  further  defence  of  Mo 
bile." 


PREFACE.  Vli 

Gen.  Gibson  also  pointed  out  one  or  two  errors  in  my  ac 
count,  on  page  45,  of  the  detachments  that  watched  the  moderate 
but  sure  advance  of  Gen.  Canby's  army  towards  Spanish  Fort. 
Gen.  Gibson  moved  a  column  of  infantry  and  artillery,  com 
manded  by  Col.  F.  L.  Campbell,  to  Deer  Park,  to  watch  the 
road  there,  but  only  a  cavalry  forc,e  to  the  "  village."  Gen.  Gib 
son  himself  made  a  reconnoissance  of  the  Union  force  with  cav 
alry  alone,  and  was  on  its  flank  and  rear  the  day  it  advanced. 
Finding  the  Union  columns  were  coming  in  force,  both  on  the 
Hollywood  road,  where  Col.  Bush  Jones  with  infantry  was 
posted,  and  on  the  Deer  Park  road,  where  Col.  Campbell  was 
posted,  he  concentrated  his  force  at  D' Olive  Creek.  The  day 
light  attack,  March  27,  was  not  to  develop  the  Union  force,  for 
that  had  been  done  the  day  previously,  when  Gen.  Gibson 
estimated  it  at  16,000;  but  to  inspire  the  new  troops  of 
Thomas's  brigade  with  confidence  and  deter  the  Union  com 
mander  from  assaulting. 

In  course  of  the  twenty-one  years  that  have  passed  since 
this  history  was  published,  four  of  the  Union  generals  who  were 
engaged  in  the  operations  at  Blakely  have  departed  this  life. 
Gen.  Canby  was  treacherously  killed  by  the  Modoc  Indians 
on  the  northern  border  of  California,  April  11,  1873,  being  at 
the  time  fifty-four  years  of  age.  He  was  then  in  command 
of  the  Department  of  the  Columbia,  headquarters  at  Port 
land,  and  came  to  the  vicinity  of  the  insubordinate  band  of  two 
hundred  Modocs  (some  three  hundred  miles  distant),  evidently  at 
the  particular  desire  of  the  Government,  to  advise  the  Com 
missioners  to  the  Modoc  Indians  in  their  negotiations  with 


Ylll  PREFACE. 

them  for  their  removal  to  the  Klamath  or  some  other  suitable 
reservation.  Gen.  Canby  had  as  many  as  forty  commissioned 
officers  serving  under  him,  almost  any  one  of  whom  ought  to 
have  been  competent  for  the  duty  he  himself  undertook.  He 
acted  conscientiously  and  in  obedience  to  orders ;  but  I  have 
always  felt  that  he  was  too  valuable  a  man  to  be  assigned  to 
such  duty,  and  that  our  Government  was  responsible  for  his 
sacrifice.  Take  him  all  in  all,  our  country  scarcely  pos 
sessed  a  more  valuable  citizen  and  officer. 

Ma j. -Gen.  Frederick  Steele  died  in  San  Mateo,  Califor 
nia,  January  12,  1868,  while  on  leave  of  absence  from  his  com 
mand  of  the  Department  of  the  Columbia,  at  the  age  of 
forty-nine  years.  Maj.-Gen.  Gordon  Granger  died  at  Santa 
Fe,  New  Mexico,  January  10,  1876,  aged  fifty-five  years,  being 
at  the  time  in  command  of  the  District  of  New  Mexico. 
Brevet  Maj.-Gen.  Kenner  Garrard  died  in  civil  life  at  Cin 
cinnati,  May  15,  1879,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine  years. 

C.  C.  ANDREWS. 
ST.  PAUL,  MINN.,  November,  1888. 


CONTENTS. 


(For  more  particular  reference  to  Contents,  see  Index.) 


CHAPTER  I. 

MOBILE.  P 

Military  Importance  of  Mobile— Its  Fortifications— By  whom  Constructed— Gen.  Johnston's  Opin 
ion  of  the  Fortifications— Harbor  Defences— Forts  Gaines  and  Morgan— Confederate  Navy. . . . 


CHAPTER  IT. 

EARLIER    OPERATIONS  AGAINST  MOBILE. 

Bombardment,  Siege,  and  Capture  of  Forts  Morgan  and  Gaines— Land  Forces  engaged— Heroic 
Conduct  of  Farragut — Brilliant  Achievements  of  the  Navy — Fall  of  Fort  Powell — Limited  Gar- 
-isonof  Mobile 18 

CHAPTER  III. 

CONCENTRATION,   ORGANIZATION,   AND  EQUIPMENT  OF  THE  ARMY. 

Canby's  Movable  Forces — Brigade  of  Reserve  Corps  sent  to  Barrancas — Camp  at  Barrancas — 
Organization  of  Thirteenth  Corps— Sixteenth  Corps  moves  down  the  Mississippi— Canby's 
Orders  to  perfect  Organization — Forces  collected  at  Fort  Gaines 21 

CHAPTER  IV. 

PLAN  OF  OPERATIONS. 
Mobile  to  ba  flanked  by  Movement  from  Eastern  Shore— Railroad  Communications  with  Mont 


gomery  to  be  destroyed— Column  to  move  out  fromPensacola. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THIRTEENTH  AND  SIXTEENTH  CORPS  MOVE  TO  DANLEY'S  ON  FISH  RTTER. 
Difficult  March  of  the  Thirteenth  Corps— Demonstration  on  Western  Shore  of  Mobile  Bay— Attack 
on  the  Wagon  Train— Movement  of  the  Sixteenth  Corps  on  Transports 


2  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

THREE  DAYS  AT  FISH  KIVER. 

PA<it 

Drill — Skirmish — Scenes  in  Camp — Forward  Movement — Plans  and  Activity  of  the  Confederates — 
Experience  of  their  Troops — Order  of  Battle — Confederates  Retire  into  their  Works — Thirteenth 
Corps  on  D'OHeve's  Creek — Sixteenth  Corps  at  C.  Sibley's — Skirmish 3£ 


CHAPTER  VIL 
SPANISH  FORT— ITS  INVESTMENT. 

Description  of  the  Ground— Attack  on  Federal  Picket— Sixteenth  Corps  turns  Back  on  Spanish 
/Fort— Skirmish  at  Minette  Bridge— Thirteenth  and  Sixteenth  Corps  in  Line  of  Battle— Spirited 
Action — Confederates  driven  Behind  their  Works — Canby's  Headquarters  at  Wilson's 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
SIEGE  OF  SPANISH  FORT— SECOND  DAY. 

Garrison  of  Spanish  Fort— "  Shooting  to  Kill"— Operations  in  the  Sixteenth  Corps'  Front— In 
Thirteenth  Corps'  Front — Attack  on  Capt.  Noble's  Working  Party— Operations  of  the  Navy- 
Sinking  of  the  Milwaukee — Spirited  Conduct  of  her  Crew 60 


CHAPTER  IX. 
SIEGE  OF  SPANISH  FORT— THIRD  DAY. 

Operations  of  Navy— Sinking  of  the  Osage— Position  of  the  Confederate  Artillery— Batteries  Huger 
•md  Tracy — their  Armament — Operations  along  the  Line — Capt.  Myers'  Adventure  on  Skirmish- 
Line — Progress  of  the  Trenches — Casualties  light 6S 


CHAPTER  X. 
SIEGE  OF  SPANISH  FORT— FOURTH  DAY. 

.Progress  of  the  Siege — Withdrawal  of  Veatch's  Division — Change  of  Garrison  Troops — Their  Casu 
alties 78 

CHAPTER  XL 
SIEGE  OF  SPANISH  FORT— FIFTH  DAY. 

Sunken  Battery  constructed  by  Besiegers  on  Shore  of  Bay  Minette— Thirty-Pounders  of  First 
Indiana  Heavy  Artillery  in  Position — The  New  York  Light  Batteries — Gallant  Exploit  of  Some 
of  the  Ninety-Fourth  Illinois  Men— Sortie  and  Capture  of  Detachment  of  the  Seventh  Vermont 
—What  the  Prisoners  saw  in  Spanish  Fort — Supper  with  the  Commander  of  the  Garrison 81 


CONTENTS.  ,3 

CHAPTER  XII. 

SIEGE  OP  SPANISH  FORT— SIXTH  DAY. 

PACK. 

Feeling  in  Mobile— The  Garrison's  Economy  of  Ammunition— Holtzclaw's  Brigade— It  relieves 
the  Alabama  Reserves — Operation  of  the  Besiegers — Expert  Practice  of  Grayson's  Battery — 
Brilliant  Shots  by  Seventh  Massachusetts  Light  Guns — Sinking  of  the  Rodolph 88 

* 

CHAPTER  XIIL 

OPERATIONS  OP  STEELE'S  COLUMN  FROM  PENSACOLA  BAY. 

Composition  of  his  Forces — Second  Division  marches  to  Pensacola — Condition  of  Pensacola — Con 
federate  Scouts  around— Repairing  Wharves — Difficult  March  of  Steele's  Column— Exaggerated 
Idea  of  his  Forces — Arrival  at  Pine  Barren — Construction  of  Bridge — Crossing  of  the  Pine 
Barren...  .  96 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

CONTINUATION  OP  STEELE'S  MARCH. 

Expectations  of  a  Fight — Combat  of  Pr ingle's  Creek — Gen.  Clanton  severely  wounded — Victory  of 
Lucas'  Cavalry — Pursuit  to  the  Escambia — Entry  of  Pollard — Spurling's  Cavalry  Operations — 
Spurling '«  a  Live  Yankee"— His  Capture  of  a  Staff  Officer— Steele  turns  toward  Blakely— Bad 
Koads — Corduroying — Scarcity  of  Rations — Capture  of  an  Outpost — Veatch's  Movement  with 
Supplies 107 


CHAPTER  XV. 
INVESTMENT  AND  SIEGE  OF  BLAKELY. 

Description  of  Blakely — Its  Garrison — Investment  of  Blakely — Bivouac  of  the  Colored  Division — Its 
Engagement — Good  Behavior  of — Casualties  in — The  Second  Division  moves  early  from  Hall's 
— Takes  Position  before  Blakely— Engagement  of  Skirmishers— Rifle  -Pits  commenced '. . . .  121 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
SIEGE  OF  SPANISH  FORT— SEVENTH  AND  EIGHTH  DAYS. 

Engagement  of  Artillery— Sweeping  for  Torpedoes  by  the  Squadron— Incident  showing  the  Soldiers' 
Magnanimity — Toil  of  the  Besiegers — Their  Bomb-Proofs 180 


CHAPTER  XVII. 
SIEGE  OP  SPANISH  FORT—NINTH  DAY. 

Progress  of  the  Trenches — Notice  of  the  Batteries — General  Bombardment — Enthusiasm  among 
Bes  iegers 136 


±  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

SIEGE  OF  SPANISH  FORT— TENTH,  ELEVENTH,  AND  TWELFTH  DATS. 

PAGB 

Firing  at  Night — Footway  to  Conway's  Bayou— News  of  Fall  of  Sclma— Enterprise  of  a  Lieu 
tenant — Engagement  of  the  Octorara — Strength  of  the  Garrison — The  Hospital 141 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
SIEGE  OF  SPANISH  FOKT— THIRTEENTH  AND  LAST  PAY. 

Consultation  about  Evacuation — State  of  the  Siege — Grand  Bombardment — Assault  in  Carr's 
Front — Gallant  Conduct  of  the  Eighth  Iowa— Lodgment  effected— Secret  Withdrawal  of  the 
Garrison — The  Retreat — Occupation  of  Spanish  Fort  by  Besiegers 148 

CHAPTER  XX. 
OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  SIEGE  OF  SPANISH  FORT. 

Beauregard's  Opinion— Object  of  Spanish  Fort— Importance  of  its  Reduction— Propriety  of  Assault — 
The  Garrison  Commander — Instance  of  Neglect  by  Garrison — Their  Activity — Importance  of 
Enfilading  Fire  and  Secure  Approaches 163 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
SIEGE  OF  BLAKELY  CONTINUED— SECOND,  THIRD,   AND  FOURTH  DAYS. 

Nature  of  the  Ground  between  Combatants—Operations  in  Hawkins'  Front— In  Second  Division- 
Position  of  Veatch's  and  Garrard's  Divisions — First  Gun  of  Besiegers  in  Position — Observa 
tions  by  Lieut. -Col.  Whittlesey— Two  more  of  Second  Connecticut  Ten -Pounders  open— Change 
of  Position  by  Rinaker  's  Brigade— Condition  of  the  Garrison 168 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

SIEGE  OF  BLAKELY— FIFTH,  SIXTH,  AND  SEVENTH  DAYS. 

Sortie — Advance  of  Line  on  the  Left— Conduct  of  Maj.  Hutchinson— Action  before  Day— Engage 
ment  of  the  Fifteenth  Massachusetts  Battery — Operations  of  the  Cavalry — Operations  of  the 
Garrison — Communications  between  the  Skirmishers — Second  Division  ordered  in  Readiness 
to  March — Engagement  of  First  Indiana  Thirty -Pounders  with  Gunboats 178 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 
SIEGE  OF  BLAKELY— EIGHTH  AND  LAST  DAY. 

Reinforcement  of  Besiegers'  Artillery — Stage  of  the  Works — Suspicion  that  the  Garrison  was 
evacuating— Feelings  of  the  Garrison— Preliminary  Advance  by  Colored  Troops— The  Assault 
•—Description  of  the  Assault  in  Each  Division — The  Works  of  Blakely  triumphantly  carried — 
Capture  of  Three  Thousand  Prisoners, 189 


CONTENTS.  0 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  SIEGE  AND  ASSAULT  OF  BLAKELY. 

FAQB. 

Immediate  Effect  of  the  Fall  of  Blakely — Conduct  of  the  Garrison — Marshes — Favorable  Tiite 
for  Assault — Work  Done  by  Besiegers 222 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

REDUCTION  OF  FORTS  HUGER  AND  TRACY. 

Splendid  Firing  of  the  Octorara — Engagement  of  Foust's  Light  Battery,  and  Sixth  Michigan  Heavy 
Artillery  with  the  Forts—The  Forts  hastily  evacuated— Gen.  A.  J.  Smith's  Preparations  for 
Assault. , 227 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

ADVENTURES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

Gen.  Bailey's  Trip  to  Spanish  Fort — Incidents  of  the  Siege— Humor  of  Confederate  Solders 438 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

FURTHER  OPERATIONS  OF  LUCAS'  CAVALRY. 
March  to  Claiborne — Combat  of  Mount  Pleasant 4 ,,  239 

CHAPTER  XXVIIL 
OPERATIONS  OF  WILSON'S  CAVALRY  IN  ALABAMA. 

Condition  of  Confederates  in  Central  Alabama— Organization  of  Wilson's  Cavalry  at  Gravelly 
Springs — Preparations  for  a  Movement — Routes  of  the  Three  Division* — Croxton's  Brigade 
Detached  at  Elyton— Skirmish  near  Montevallo — Capture  of  Despatches  at  Randolph— Battle 
of  Ebenezer  Church .-.242 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
CAVALRY  OPERATIONS  CONTINUED— BATTLE  OF  SELMA 

Description  of  the  Defences  of  Selma— Battle  of  Selma— Victorious  Assault  by  Dismounted  Cavalry 
—Plans  of  the  Confederates — Destruction  of  Property — Gen.  Wilson  moves  to  Montgomery. . .  Ii62 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

OPERATIONS  OF  CROXTON'S  BRIGADE. 

Skirmish  at  Trion— Capture  of  Tuscaloosa— Combat  at  Pleasant  Ridge— Gallant  Conduct  of  Second 
Michigan  Cavalry — Hard  Marching — Swimming  Rivers — Skirmish  near  Jacksonville — White 
Flag  on  the  Bank  of  the  Chattahoochec — Observations , 280 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


[The  drawings  of  the  battle-fields  were  made  a  little  upward  of  a  year  after  the  battles  took  place.] 

PAGE. 

1.  GENERAL  MAP  OP  THE  CAMPAIGN 9 

2.  MAP  OF  THE  SIEGE  OF  SPANISH  FORT 48 

3.  BOMB-PROOFS — INSIDE  BESIEGERS'  FIRST   PARALLEL    (SIXTEENTH    CORPS 

FRONT 135 

4.  SPANISH  FORT — VIEW  FROM  WORKS  OF  THIRTEENTH  CORPS — SHOWING 

"  MCDERMETT?' 148 

5.  SKETCH  SHOWING  THE  WORKS  OF  GEN.  E.  A.  CARR'S  DIVISION 151 

6.  BLAKELY — VIEW  FROM  CENTRE  OF  SECOND  DIVISION — SHOWING  CONFED 

ERATE  REDOUBT  No.  4 173 

7.  MAP  OF  THE  SIEGE  OF  BLAKELY 190 

8.  BLAKELY — VIEW  IN  FRONT  OF  HAWKINS'  DIVISION 193 

9.  BLAKELY — VIEW  FROM  THE  RIGHT  OF  GAKRARD'S   DIVISION 213 

10.  MAP  OF  SELMA..  .  252 


General  Map  of  the  Campaign 

of 

MOBILE 


HISTOBY 


OF   THE 


CAMPAIGN  OF  MOBILE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

MOBILE— ITS  FORTIFICATIONS. 

MOBILE,  at  the  commencement  of  the  war,  contained  a 
population,  of  thirty  thousand.  It  is  situated  on  low  ground, 
at  the  mouth  of  Mobile  river — formed  by  the  Alabama  and 
Tombigbee — and  at  the  head  and  western  shore  of  the  bay 
bearing  the  same  name. 

Having  communication  the  year  round,  by  rivers  as  well  as 
by  railroads,  into  the  heart  of  Alabama  and  Mississippi,  it  was 
regarded  as  one  of  the  keys  of  the  Confederacy. 

Socially,  politically,  and  commercially,  except  that  its  com 
merce  was  smaller,  it  resembled  New  Orleans ;  and  between 
the  cities  there  was  considerable  cordiality.  The  liberalizing 
influence  of  commerce  had  tended  to  foster  a  fraternal  and 
national  spirit,  and  it  was  among  the  last  Southern  cities  to 
renounce  the  Union.  Douglas  had  been  welcomed  there  with 
enthusiasm  in  1860,  and  received  a  large  vote  in  the  presi 
dential  election. 

After  the  passage  of  the  ordinance  of  secession,  it  was 
desmed  essential  that  the  orator  Yancey  should  visit  Mobile 


10  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

to  reconcile  tlie  people  to  the  new  government.  He  urged, 
among  other  things,  that,  under  the  Confederacy,  their  com 
merce  would  take  more  ample  wings ;  and  that  the  only  dan 
ger  to  be  dreaded  would  be  the  excess  of  wealth  and  luxury 
which  would  follow. 

But  once  committed  to  the  confederate  cause,  the  people 
were  active  and  zealous  in  contributing  to  its  success.  They 
cheerfully  rendered  military  service,  and  gave  the  labor  of  th  en 
slaves  in  constructing  defensive  works.  These  being  carried 
on  with  skill  and  industry,  grew  more  formidable  every  yean 
They  tended  to  avert  attack,  and  gave  the  city  the  distinction 
of  being  the  last  important  place  in  the  Confederacy  which  was 
captured. 

Once,  only,  did  the  people  murmur.  West  of  the  city,  on 
rising  ground,  was  a  fine  forest  of  oak  and  evergreen.  Drives 
through  it  afforded  pleasant  refuge  from  the  tropic  heat  of  the 
town  ;  and  thither  excursions  were  made  in  the  long  summer 
for  relaxation.  The  engineer  decided  that  this  forest  must  be 
cut  down,  and  it  was  done.  But  the  citizens  made  indignant 
complaints  on  account  of  it. 

Fortifications  of  Mobile. — Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston  pronounced 
Mobile  to  be  the  best-fortified  place  in  the  Confederacy.  The 
first  continuous  line  of  earthworks  around  the  city  was  made 
in  1862,  under  Capt.  Lieurner,  about  three  miles  out  from  the 
business  streets,  and  comprised  fifteen  redoubts.  This  line  was, 
for  the  most  part,  upon  ground  about  one  hundred  feet  higher 
than  the  city. 

After  the  fall  of  Yicksburgh,  the  apprehension  of  an  attack 
stimulated  the  defensive  operations,  and  the  year  1863  wit 
nessed  the  completion,  by  Gen.  Leadbetter,  of  a  second  line  of 
works,  built  nearer  the  city,  and  in  fact  passing  through  the 
suburbs.  It  included  sixteen  enclosed  and  strong  forts.  This 
rendered  the  defences  so  formidable  that  it  was  estimated  a 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  11 

garrison  of  ten  thousand  effective  troops  could  hold  the  city 
ninety  days  against  a  besieging  army  of  forty  thousand. 

Another  anl  still  stronger  line  of  works  was  constructed  in 
1864,  about  halfway  between  the  other  two.  This  line,  built  by 
Lieut.-Col.  Y.  Sheliha,  included  nineteen  heavy  bastioned  forts 
and  eight  redoubts.  The  parapets  of  these  forts  were  from 
twenty  to  thirty  feet  thick,  the  ditches  about  twenty  feet  deep, 
and  thirty  feet  or  thereabouts  in  width. 

Harbor  Fortifications. — Nor  were  the  works  ordinary  which 
had  been  prepared  to  resist  an  attack  by  water.  Just  below  the 
city  were  ten  batteries  to  sweep  the  channel.  Two  of  these  were 
floating.  Long  rows  of  piles  had  been  driven  to  obstruct  the 
channel ;  and  though  an  opening  was  here  and  there  left 
through  which  vessels  might  cautiously  pass,  yet  they  would 
almost  have  to  hug  the  muzzles  of  heavy  guns  which  at  every 
such  outlet  threatened  destruction.  Such  were  the  obstacles  on 
the  Spanish  river  channel,  the  usual  route. 

On  the  eastern  shore  of  the  bay  vessels  could  pass  up  the 
Appalachee  river  and  come  round  through  the  Tensas,  arriving 
in  front  of  Mobile,  clear  of  the  obstructions  before  mentioned. 
But  to  close  this  route  Batteries  Huger  and  Tracy  had  been 
built  on  low  ground  close  to  the  river,  and  piles  had  also  been 
driven  across  the  channel ;  and  in  different  parts  of  the  bay 
many  torpedoes  had  been  planted. 

But  the  principal  barrier  against  attack  by  water,  up  to  the 
summer  of  1864,  had  been  Forts  Morgan  and  Gaines.  These 
imposing  walled  forts  stood  at  the  entrance  of  the  bay,  four 
miles  apart,  and  afforded  protection  to  blockade-runners.  They 
had  been  built  by  the  United  States,  but  were  seized  and  taken 
possession  of  by  the  confederates  as  early  as  January,  1861-. 

Fort  Gaines  was  built  in  star-fashion,  mounting  thirty  guns, 
and  garrisoned  by  nine  hundred  men.  Fort  Morgan  was  built 
on  a  grander  scale,  armed  with  sixty  powerful  guns,  and  had  a 


12  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

water  battery  in  its  front.  Besides  these  was  Fort  Powell,  near 
Cedar  point,  built  to  command  Grant's  pass — an  inconsiderable 
and  incomplete  work,  and  mounting  only  eight  guns.  In  the 
channel  in  front  of  Fort  Morgan,  and  not  more  than  a  mile  dis 
tant  from  it,  four  hundred  torpedoes  had  been  planted.  But  the 
current  there  is  strong,  and  only  one  of  them  was  ever  known  to 
cause  any  damage. 

Thus  was  Mobile  hemmed  about  with  grim  preparations 
against  an  adversary.  And  besides  these  fortifications,  there 
was  no  inconsiderable  confederate  navy  lurking  in  the  harbor. 
The  ram  Tennessee,  that  afterward  made  a  frightful  dash  at  the 
Hartford,  and  the  gunboats  Gaines,  Morgan,  Selma,  and  other 
vessels,  had  by  their,  menacing  attitude  created  some  apprehen 
sion  of  an  attempt  to  raise  the  blockade  ;  and  the  federal  gov 
ernment  felt  the  necessity  of  Farragut's  presence  there.  He  was 
therefore  ordered  to  resume  command  of  the  western  gulf  squad 
ron,  which  he  did ;  and  arrived  off  Mobile  on  the  18th  of  Jan 
uary,  1864 


CHAPTER    II. 

EARLIER    OPERATIONS    AGAINST    MOBILE. 

ASSUMING  that  the  Ked  river  expedition  would  be  successful, 
Grant,  on  the  31st  of  March,  1864,  in  a  despatch  to  Banks, 
expressed  the  opinion  that  after  reserving  a  force  sufficient  to 
guard  the  Mississippi  river  he  (Banks)  would  have  left,  accord 
ing  to  the  last  returns,  a  force  of  over  thirty  thousand  effective 
men  with  which  to  move  against  Mobile ;  to  which  he  expected 
to  add  five  thousand  men  from  Missouri.  "If,  however,"  he 
continued,  "you  think  the  force  here  stated  too  small  to  hold 
the  territory  regarded  as  necessary  to  hold  possession  of,  I 
would  say  concentrate  at  least  twenty-five  thousand  men  of  your 
present  command  for  operations  against  Mobile,  with  these  and 
such  other  additions  as  I  can  give  you  from  elsewhere  lose  no 
time  in  making  a  demonstration,  to  be  followed  by  an  attack  on 
Mobile." 

The  reverses  along  the  Eed  river  prevented  these  instructions 
from  being  carried  into  effect.  Gen.  Canby  assumed  command 
of  the  military  division  of  West  Mississippi  on  the  llth  of  May. 
He  brought  with  him  instructions  to  carry  out,  if  possible,  the 
contemplated  movement  against  Mobile.  But  the  recent  suc 
cess  of  the  confederates  west  of  the  Mississippi  increased  their 
spirit  so  much  that  they  at  once  assumed  the  aggressive.  Kirby 
Smith's  combined  forces  did  not  fall  much  short  of  sixty  thou 
sand  men.  He  threatened  several  points  on  the  Mississippi  and 
the  whole  line  of  the  Arkansas.  It  was  necessary,  therefore,  to 
postpone  the  contemplated  operations  against  Mobile,  all  the 


11  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

movable  forces  being  required  to  guard  the  Mississippi.  It  had 
baen  contemplated  also  to  renew  operations  on  Red  river,  but 
Canby  became  satisfied  that  the  troops  could  be  used  to  better 
advantage  east  of  the  Mississippi.  He  was  also  called  on  to 
send  six  thousand  men  of  the  Nineteenth  corps  by  sea  from  New 
Orleans  to  "Washington  when  the  latter  place  was  threatened, 
and  the  movement  being  executed  with  promptitude  and  secresy 
they  reaajied  there  at  a  most  opportune  moment. 

But  although  the  federal  army  was  yet  unable  to  assail 
Mobile,  that  place  was  destined  to  receive  a  tremendous  blow 
from  the  navy,  in  the  reduction  of  those  frowning  citadels  that 
guarded  the  bay  and  harbor.  Farragut's  heroic  and  magnifi 
cent  naval  engagement  with  Forts  Morgan  and  Gaines  and  the 
confederate  monitors,  on  the  5th  of  August,  1864,  is  a  familiar 
and  memorable  event,  and  some  mention  of  it  should  here  be 
made  including  the  operations  of  the  land  forces.  On  that  day, 
Fort  Powell  was  blown  up  and  evacuated ;  on  the  8th,  Fort 
Gaines  surrendered  with  its  garrison,  a,nd  on  the  23d,  the  federal 
ensign  was  once  more  hoisted  over  Fort  Morgan. 

Bombardment  and  Siege  of  Forts  Morgan  and  Gaines. — At 
eleven  o'clock  of  the  night  of  August  2,  Gen.  Gordon  Granger 
arrived  off  Santa  Eosa  Island,  with  fifteen  hundred  effective 
men,  consisting  of  the  Seventy-seventh  Illinois,  Thirty-fourth 
Iowa,  Ninety-sixth  Ohio,  Third  Maryland  dismounted  cavalry, 
and  Cobb's  colored  regiment  of  engineers,  the  whole  under 
the  immediate  command  of  Brig.-Gen.  McGinnis.  After  Granger 
had  consulted  with  Admiral  Farragut,  the  troops,  on  the  3d, 
moved  up  to  Dauphine  island,  and  effected  a  landing  before 
dark.  Thoy  immsdiately  moved  forward  toward  a  clearing  in 
the  woods,  ten  miles  distant.  By  dark  a  heavy  rain  set  in. 
The  gunboats  shelled  the  woods,  and,  amidst  the  thick  dark 
ness  and  thunder-storm,  the  march  was  slow.  Three  times 
the  skirmish  line  got  in  rear  of  the  main  column.  Finally,  at 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  15 

midnight,  weary  and  drenched  to  the  skin,  the  column  halted 
and  sank  down  on  the  sand  to  await  morning.  Then  myriads 
of  mosquitoes  commenced  their  attack ;  but  the  men,  being 
literally  exhausted  by  such  a  march,  fell  asleep.  In  the  morn 
ing  the  march  was  resumed ;  the  confederate  skirmishers  were 
soon  met,  but  made  little  resistance,  and  at  ten,  A.  if.,  the 
column  came  in  sight,  and  within  two  miles  of  Fort  Gaines, 
At  the  edge  of  the  woods  a  line  was  formed,  and  reserve  breast- 
works  constructed  of  fallen  trees.  On  the  4th,  the  skirmishers 
were  within  half  a  mile  of  the  fort,  and  intrenchments  were 
commenced.  The  guns  from  Fort  Gaines  did  some  shelling, 
and  the  skirmish  fire  on  both  sides  was  lively,  but  the  casual 
ties  were  light. 

The  morning  of  the  5th  was  clear  and  cloudless.  The  con 
federate  guns  opened  briskly  at  sunrise.  It  was  the  morning 
Farragut  had  promised  his  gallant  seamen  and  marines,  "they 
should  breakfast  in  Mobile  bay." 

At  six  o'clock,  the  fleet  of  some  fourteen  splendid  vessels, 
with  slow  and  stately  pace,  steamed  toward  Fort  Morgan. 
Farragut,  as  is  well  known,  had  taken  post  in  the  main  rigging 
of  the  flagship,  Hartford.  The  Tecumseh,  being  in  the  lead, 
fired  the  first  shot.  Ten  minutes  afterward,  both  forts  opened 
on  the  fleet.  About  the  same  time  the  Tecumseh  struck  a  tor 
pedo,  and  the  gallant  Craven  and  his  devoted  crew — about  one 
hundred  and  twenty  souls — found  a  watery  grave.  A  moment 
ary  shudder  pierced  the  breast  of  every  beholder.  Ten  were 
rescued  by  the  bravery  of  Acting  Ensign  H.  C.  Nields  and 
boat's  crew  from  the  Metacomet,  within  six  hundred  yards  of 
the  fort,  under  a  galling  fire.  Every  gun  that  could  be  brought 
to  bear  from  the  ships  was  constantly  served.  In  the  begin 
ning,  Fort  Morgan  itself  seemed  a  wall  of  fire,  but  in  a  few 
moments  was  obscured  by  smoke.  As  the  Tecumseh  sank,  the 
flagship  rushed  forward  and  took  the  lead.  The  shock,  the 


16 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE 


dread  clamor,  of  that  cannonading — its  sharp  concussion  and 
loudly  reverberating  roar,  defy  description.  Amid  the  tempest 
of  battle,  Farragut,  from  his  elevated  position,  calmly  surveyed 
the  whole  scene.  One  hour  of  intense  excitement — one  hour  of 
straining  toil  at  the  guns — and  the  fleet  passed  the  fort  and 
entered  the  bay.  Then  the  confederate  navy — the  ram  Ten 
nessee,  the  Morgan,  Gaines,  and  Selma — opened  fire.  The 
Metacornet  gave  chase  to  the  Selma,  and  in  an  hour  captured 
her  and  her  crew  of  ninety  officers  and  men.  The  Morgan 
escaped  up  the  bay ;  the  Gaines,  disabled,  sought  shelter  under 
the  guns  of  Fort  Morgan.  The  iron  rani  Tennessee,  like  a 
monstrous  thing  of  life,  stood  up  with  threatening  aspect  for 
the  Hartford.  Seeing  this,  Farragut  signalled  the  monitors, 
and  wooden  vessels  best  adapted,  to  attack  her,  not  only  with 
their  guns,  but  bows  on  at  full  speed.  For  two  hours  the  strug 
gle  was  desperate  and  fearful.  The  ironclads  grappled  fiercely 
with  their  huge  antagonist,  and  the  wooden  vessels,  with  ro 
mantic  valor,  bore  down  on  her  invulnerable  sides.  Finally, 
the  Manhattan,  with  a  XV-inch  shot,  penetrated  her  armor, 
and  a  shot  from  a  monitor  in  her  steering  apparatus  rendered 
her  helpless.  The  white  flag  appeared,  and  twenty  officers  and 
one  hundred  and  seventy  men  were  surrendered.  Her  loss 
was  eight  or  ten  killed  and  wounded,  her  admiral,  Buchanan, 
being  seriously  wounded.  The  loss  in  the  federal  navy  that 
morning  was  fifty-two  killed  and  one  hundred  and  seventy 
wounded. 

The  fleet  now  washed  up  their  bloody  decks  and  rested. 
Meantime  the  siege  of  Fort  Gaines  continued.  On  the  6th, 
the  land  forces  mounted  two  thirty-pounder  Parrotts  and  four 
twelve-pounder  rifles,  and  prepared  works  for  more  guns. 
About  five,  P.  M.,  one  of  the  monitors  steamed  up  and  dropped 
several  shells  into  the  fort.  Apprehending  what  might  follow, 
the  commander  of  the  garrison,  Col.  Anderson,  inquired  of  Ad- 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  17 

miral  Farragut  on  what  terms  lie  would  receive  the  surrender 
of  the  fort. 

The  7th  was  occupied  in  arranging  terms  and  making  out 
rolls  of  men  to  be  surrendered. 

At  nine,  A.  M.,  of  the  8th,  Fort  Gaines  was  unconditionally 
surrendered,  and  large  quantities  of  ammunition  and  supplies 
were  turned  over  in  good  condition.  The  confederate  loss  in 
killed  and  wounded  had  not  exceeded  ten,  and  the  federal  land 
forces  lost  only  two  killed.  Among  the  latter  was  Corporal 
Grey,  of  the  Thirty-fourth  Iowa. 

The  prisoners — nine  hundred — were  immediately  embarked 
for  New  Orleans,  and  the  besiegers  regaled  themselves  with 
the  best  meal  they  had  had  since  arriving  on  Dauphine  island — 
corn-dodders,  fried  bacon,  and  coffee. 

/Siege  of  Fort  Morgan. — On  the  9th,  at  daylight,  Granger's 
command,  now  reinforced  by  the  Twentieth  Wisconsin,  Thirty- 
eighth  Iowa,  and  Ninety-fourth  Illinois,  embarked  for  Navy 
cove,  four  miles  down  the  peninsula  from  Fort  Morgan,  on  the 
bay  side,  with  a  view  to  besiege  that  fort.  The  commander  of 
Fort  Morgan  then  caused  the  gunboat  Gaines  to  be  burned, 
and  also  the  hospital  and  other  buildings  outside  of  the  fort. 
After  landing,  the  troops  moved  forward,  and  that  night  lay 
on  their  arms  two  miles  from  the  fort. 

On  the  10th,  they  advanced,  anr1  the  Thirty-fourth  Iowa, 
being  on  the  skirmish  line,  got  within  six  hundred  yards  of 
the  fort  without  drawing  fire,  the  garrison  keeping  quiet  and 
expecting  an  assault.  Slight  advances  were  made  each  night, 
and  intrenchments  dug  in  the  sand,  till  the  skirmishers  were 
within  two  hundred  yards  of  the  fort.  Occasionally  a  monitor 
would  steam  up,  and  throw  one-hundred  and  two-hundred- 
pound  shells  into  the  fort,  but  the  replies  from  the  latter 
seemed  ineffective  against  their  iron  sides ;  though,  in  the  arma- 

2 


18  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

ment  of  the  fort,  were  several  Armstrong  and  Whitney  guns, 
and  one*Whitworth. 

A  siege-train  having  previously  arrived,  under  Gen.  Richard 
Arnold,  by  the  21st,  the  land  forces  had  twenty-live  cannon 
and  sixteen  mortars  in  position.  The  mortars  were  behind  a 
heavy  parapet  four  hundred  yards  from  the  fort,  and  manned 
by  men  of  the  Thirty-eighth  Jowa.  The  guns  were  in  redoubts, 
and  manned  by  companies  of  the  First  Indiana  heavy  artillery 
and  a  detachment  of  sailors  from  the  fleet,  the  naval  battery 
being  commanded  by  Lieut.  Tyson,  of  the  Hartford.  The  troops 
were  subjected  to  severe  toil  in  constructing  works  in  the  sand  ; 
and  were  day  and  night  exposed  to  a  searching  fire  from  the 
fort,  s 

jfhz  Bombardment. — At  daylight  on  the  22d,  a  gun  from  a 
monitor  gave  the  signal  for  a  general  bombardment.  At  nine, 
A..  M.,  the  whole  fleet  was  in  line  of  battle  and  the  firing  con 
tinued  with  unabated  fury.  From  seven  to  nine,  p.  M.,  it  was 
slow  and  irregular;  but  at  half  past  nine,  p.  M.,  a  fire  was  dis 
covered  breaking^  out  in  the  fort,  and  the  firing  was  then  in 
tensely  renewed  to  prevent  extinguishment.  Six  or  eight  mortar 
shells  could  be  counted  in  the  air  at  once ;  and  every  shot  ap 
peared  to  take  effect.  Nor  in  the  midst  of  this  destructive 
shower  was  the  garrison  moved  by  any  weak  fears.  When  the 
fire  broke  out  they  exposed  themselves  to  extinguish  it,  and 
threw  ninety  thousand  pounds  of  powder  into  the  cisterns. 
Between  forty  and  fifty  had  been  killed  or  wounded.  One 
man  had  been  blown  eighty  feet  into  the  air  by  the  explosion 
of  a  shell.  The  interior  of  the  fort  had  become  a  mass  of 
smouldering  ruins ;  there  was  not  a  space  five  feet  square 
which  had  not  been  dafacsd  by  shell.  Many  of  the  guns  had 
been  shattered  into  pieces  by  solid  shot  and  shells. 

The  garrison  did  not  reply  to  the  fleet  during  the  bombard 
ment.  They  attempted,  however,  to  use  some  of  their  guns  on 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  19 

the  land  batteries  but  were  prevented  by  sharpshooters.  Their 
own  sharpshooters  were  somewhat  troublesome  to  the  besiegers; 
but  the  latter  during  the  operations  had  only  five  men  wounded. 

The  firing  continued  at  intervals  all  night,  and  at  six,  A.  M.,  on 
the  23d,  a  white  flag  appeared  on  the  parapet  of  the  fort,  and 
the  garrison  was  formally  surrendered  at  half  past  two,  p.  M. 

The  Twentieth  Wisconsin  and  Thirty-fourth  Iowa  were  desig 
nated  on  the  part  of  the  land  forces  to  receive  the  surrender. 
When  the  prisoners  had  been  marched  out  and  the  confederate 
flag  was  taken  down,  the  confederate  general,  Page,  was  affected 
to  tears.  But  good  humor  and  mirth  prevailed  among  the  men. 
The  besiegers  had  used  mules  in  hauling  up  their  guns.  The 
confederate  pickets,  seeing  this  and  giving  the  animals  credit  for 
longer  ears  than  they  really  had,  had  been  free  in  expressions  of 
derision  at  such  a  battery.  And  now  the  besiegers  were  return 
ing  the  raillery. 

Such  is  an  epitome  of  the  operations  which  contributed  un 
common  renown  to  the  naval  history  of  the  republic.  The  land 
forces  engaged  were  proud  and  joyous  in  having  a  small  share 
in  so  much  glory. 

The  federal  fleet  now  having  control  of  Mobile  bay  put  a  stop 
to  blockade-running.  It  was  given  out  and  generally  believed 
that  Mobile  could  be  taken  at  pleasure.  But  it  was  hardly  so, 
nor  was  any  further  movement  made.  The  confederates  hasten 
ed  to  strengthen  their  defences  nearer  the  city,  and  built  the 
works  known  as  Spanish  fort  on  the  eastern  shore. 

The  bay  having  been  strewn  with  torpedoes  Farragut  com 
menced  the  process  of  removing  them,  and  on  the  13th  of  Sep 
tember  reported  that  twenty-one  had  been  taken  up. 

A  demonstration  was  made  against  Mobile  the  following 
December  by  a  small  column  of  infantry  under  Gen.  Granger, 
moving  from  Pascagoula.  It  reached  Grand  bay  twenty-two 
miles  from  the  city,  and  then  returned.  At  the  same  time  a 


20  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

column  of  cavalry  under  Gen.  Davidson,  from  Baton  Kouge; 
struck,  but  did  not  cross,  the  Pascagoula  river ;  and  another 
column  of  cavalry  under  Gen.  Grierson  was  moving  southeaster 
ly  from  Memphis. 

If  the  condition  of  affairs  in  Mobile  had  been  known  to  the 
federal  commander  at  the  time  Fort  Powell  was  evacuated, 
August  5th,  he  could  then  have  cheaply  captured  the  place. 
There  were  then  no  troops  in  nor  immediately  about  the  city— 
the  artillery  even  having  been  called  away  to  oppose  Gen.  A.  J. 
Smith's  column  then  advancing  from  Memphis.  And  after  the 
fight  with  him  at  Harrisburgh  the  same  troops  were  ordered  to 
West  Point,  Georgia,  to  support  Gen.  Hood,  so  that  the  federal 
forces,  if  moved  through  Grant's  pass  in  light-draught  steamers, 
thence  up  Dog  river  to  Dog  river  factory,  and  there  disem 
barked,  couild  have  marched  into  the  city  with  scarcely  any 
resistance — demonstrations  being  made  at  the  same  time  by  the 
fleet  upon  the  batteries  in  front  of  the  city.1  But  it  would,  of 
course,  have  been  necessary  to  reinforce  Gen.  Granger's  small 
command  to  at  least  eight  thousand  men  to  enable  him  to  hold 
the  city  successfully  for  a  great  length  of  time.  In  twenty  days 
Goii.  Maury  had  collected  such  a  garrison  of  confederate  troops 
as  would  have  required  the  federals  to  resort  to  the  slow  process 
of  a  siege. 

i  Gen.  D.  H.  Maury's  Report,  Mobile  Times,  Mar.  11, 1866. 


.CHAPTER    III. 

CONCENTRATION,  ORGANIZATION,  AND  EQUIPMENT  OF  THE  ARMY. 

A  CAMPAIGN  and  its  plan  being  determined  on,  there  needs  to 
be  on  the  part  of  the  leader  a  foresight  which  includes  every 
thing,  and  a  care  that  never  sleeps,  to  secure  for  the  army  the 
proper  supply  of  material,  the  bast  equipment,  the  utmost  effi 
ciency  ;  so  that  it  can  at  any  moment  take  advantage  of  its  suc 
cess,  or  if  it  meet  with  reverses  that  it  shall  not  be  overcome. 

That  operations  should  be  undertaken  against  Mobile  was 
decided  early  in  January,  1865  ;  but  the  plan  was  not  arranged 
till  some  time  afterward. 

The  troops  designated  for  the  campaign  had  to  be  moved  by 
water  from  posts  above  New  Orleans  to  the  vicinity  of  Mobile 
bay — some  point  on  which  would  be  the  base  ;  and  as  the  trans 
portation  required  sea  and  gulf  vessels,  whose  number  and  capa 
city  were  less  than  river  transports,  this  preliminary  movement 
required  considerable  time. 

Canby's  movable  forces  had  lately  been  organized  into  bri 
gades  of  the  "  Reserve  Corps  of  the  Military  Division  of  the  West 
Mississippi,"  comprising  about  ten  thousand  effectives.  They 
had  formed  a  part  of  the  Thirteenth  corps  at  Yicksburgh,  and 
more  recently  had  belonged  to  the  Nineteenth  corps.  One 
brigade  was  at  Devall's  Bluff,  Arkansas,  and  the  remainder 
were  stationed  along  the  Mississippi  from  Memphis  down. 
Early  in  January  they  were  concentrated  at  Kenner,  ten  miles 
above  New  Orleans,  and  Major-Gen.  F.  Steele  was  assigned  to 
their  command,  with  instructions  to  have  them  fitted  for  a  cam- 


22  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

paigii.  They  were  troops  which  had  been  well  tried  on  many 
occasions,  and  were  in  all  respects  such  as  any  commander 
would  be  proud  of.  Here  they  remained  about  three  weeks. 
Their  camp  lay  outside  of  the  levee,  stretched  along  for  four 
miles,  and  the  ground  was  actually  lower  than  the  surface  of  the 
river.  The  weather  was  like  September  along  the  St.  Lawrence, 
but  there  was  considerable  rain,  and  the  ground  being  much  of 
the  time  wet  and  muddy  the  men  could  hardly  be  comfortable. 
Nevertheless,  in  pursuance  of  Gen.  Steele's  orders,  some  time 
was  spent  each  day,  when  the  weather  admitted,  in  drill — prin 
cipally  in  the  manual  of  arms. 

What  the  campaign  was  to  be,  whether  against  Mobile  or  into 
Texas,  was  not  yet  known  even  by  Gen.  Steele.  But  a  portion 
of  the  troops  being  ordered  to  Barrancas,  Florida,  it  appeared 
the  former  must  be  the  objective  point. 

About  the  23d  of  January,  Gen.  Canby  received  information 
leading  to  a  suspicion  that  an  attempt  would  be  made  by  the, 
confederates  to  regain  possession  of  Barrancas  or  some  other 
point  thereabouts  on  the  gulf. 

On  the  afternoon  of  that  day  a  despatch  was  received  at  Ken- 
ner  for  the  commander  of  the  Third  brigade  of  the  reserve  to 
report  immediately  in  person  at  the  headquarters  of  the  military 
division,  New  Orleans  ;  and  complying  therewith  before  dark,  he 
received  written  instructions  to  proceed  with  the  detachment  of 
his  brigade  then  at  Kenner  to  East  Pascagoula,  and  was  enjoined 
fco  use  despatch.  Transportation  was  not  then  entirely  ready. 
Yet  the  next  day  the  regiments  had  all  embarked  with  their 
equipage.  The  Twenty-fourth  Indiana  proceeded  on  the  Corin 
thian  round  through  the  mouth  of  the  river  and  the  gulf. 

By  dusk  the  Thirty-fourth  Iowa,  and  One  Hundred  and  Four 
teenth  Ohio,  had  landed  at  New  Orleans  ;  whence  they  pro 
ceeded  by  rail  to  Lake  Pontchartrain  in  detachments — the  cars 
being  insufficient  to  take  an  entire  regiment.  Arriving  there  in 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  23 

the  middle  of  a  dark  and  windy  night,  they  rapidly  moved  their 
stores  and  teams  over  the  long  wharf — which  in  many  places 
was  so  rotten  that  some  of  the  animals  broke  through — took  their 
wagons  to  pieces  and  loaded  them  and  the  equipage  on  steam 
ers,  making  the  fourth  time  their  luggage  had  been  handled  in 
twenty-four  hours.  At  daylight,  the  26th,  they  reported  to  Gen. 
Granger,  at  East  Pascagoula,  and  were  by  him  ordered  to  Bar 
rancas,  in  accordance  with  previous  instructions  from  Gen.  Canby. 
They  arrived  at  Barrancas  at  daylight,  the  27th,  and  debarked 
and  went  into  camp.  The  remainder  of  the  brigade  arrived  on 
the  1st  of  February  ;  and  it  was  there  in  camp  six  weeks. 

It  may  interest  the  reader  to  know  how  troops  spend  such  a 
period  of  time  immediately  preceding  a  campaign.  But  first  let 
us  take  a  view  of  their  surroundings  ;  likewise  of  their  camp. 

The  natural  appearance  of  that  part  of  the  country  is  unat 
tractive.  Barrancas  is  a  narrow  and  sandy  peninsula,  a  third 
part  covered  with  pine  openings,  with  here  and  there  clusters  of 
live  oaks.  Along  the  shore  the  sand  is  white,  and  on  a  raw  day 
creates  the  illusion  of  snow. 

The  fort  which  gives  the  place  its  name  was  originally  built  by 
the  Spaniards,  about  two  centuries  ago,  and  with  Fort  Pickens, 
which  is  opposite,  helps  to  guard  the  entrance  into  the  splendid 
harbor  of  Peusacola.  On  the  southeastern  side  of  the  peninsula 
are  the  ruins  of  the  Pensacola  navy-yard  ;  and  surrounding  -that 
are  the  villages  of  Woolsey  and  Warrington.  From  the  land 
ing  at  Barrancas  the  ground  rises  slightly  for  a  mile,  and  then 
declines  to  a  bayou  on  the  north  side.  On  the  higher  ground 
was  located  the  camp  of  the  brigade.  Its  front  was  along  the 
edge  of  the  pine  wood,  and  near  was  a  small  clear  stream. 

The  Camp  at  Barrancas. — The  brigade  was  camped  in  the 
following  order  from  right  to  left,  the  regiments  having  taken 
position  as  they  happened  to  arrive,  rather  than  according  to 
rank :  The  Twenty-fourth  Indiana  (veteran),  consolidated  with 


24:  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

the  Sixty-seventh,  Col.  W.  T.  Spicely ;  the  Thirty-fourth  Iowa5 
consolidated  with  the  Thirty-eighth,  Col.  G.  W.  Clark;  the 
One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Ohio,  consolidated  with  the  One 
Hundred  and  Twentieth,  Col.  J.  H.  Kelly;  the  Eighty-third 
Ohio,  consolidated  with  the  Forty-eighth  (veteran),  Col.  F.  W. 
Moore ;  the  Sixty-ninth  Indiana,  Lieut.-Col.  O.  Perry ;  and  the 
Ninety-seventh  Illinois,  Lieut.-Col.  Y.  Vifquain.  Some  time 
afterward,  the  Seventy-sixth  Illinois,  Col.  S.  F.  Busey,  arrived, 
and,  being  attached  to  the  brigade,  took  position  on  the  left. 

It  is  a  saying  among  the  volunteers,  that  the  more  pleasant 
their  camp  is  made,  the  sooner  will  they  be  called  upon  to 
leave  it.  However  much  or  little  this  thought  influenced  these 
regiments,  they  certainly,  in  a  very  few  days,  made  a  beautiful 
and  attractive  camp.  It  was  laid  out  with  five  streets  to  a  regi 
ment,  with  tents  for  two  companies  on  a  street,  the  companies 
facing.  Small  evergreen  trees  were  cut  and  hauled  to  the 
camp,  and  set  in  rows  on  each  side  of  every  street,  and  in  front 
of  every  tant.  Handsome  arbors  were  made,  and  artificial 
groves  before  the  officers'  tents ;  and  especially  around  the  hos 
pital  tents,  which,  however,  were  but  few  in  number  and  had 
but  few  inmates.  Walks  were  neatly  arranged,  having  their 
margins  adorned  with  shrubbery,  handsome  shells,  and  devices 
moulded  from  the  white  sand.  Guns,  mortars,  shields,  cannon- 
balls,  and  other  warlike  implements  were  ingeniously  carved  in 
this  sand,  with,  here  and  there,  a  felicitous  motto  or  inscription. 
Its  cleanliness  corresponded  with  the  taste  and  industry  dis 
played  in  ornamenting  it. 

These  soldiers  were  some  of  the  best  young  men  of  the  West, 
and  had  the  characteristics  of  proud  and  gallant  men,  as  one 
could  plainly  see  who  noticed  them  off  duty  in  their  familiar  and 
joyous  groups  around  the  camp.  The  plates  on  their  accoutre 
ments  were  kept  brightly  polished,  and  their  muskets  and 
accoutrements  always  neat.  Two  hours  in  the  forenoon  they 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  25 

spent  in  company  drill,  devoting  considerable  attention  to  the 
manual  of  arms  and  to  target  practice  ;  and  two  hours  of  the 
afternoon  were  devoted  to  brigade  drill.  The  ground  on  which 
these  drills  took  place  was  a  mile  north  of  Fort  Barrancas.  The 
field  officers  met  evenings  in  the  school  of  the  brigade  ;  and  the 
exercises  of  the  brigade  in  the  field  were  eminently  successful. 
As  these  battalions  moved  with  so  much  precision  and  beauty, 
closed  in  mass,  or  rapidly  deployed,  or  advanced  in  line  of  battle 
in  double-quick  on  the  charge,  their  bayonets  glittering  and 
their  alignment  grandly  preserved,  no  observer  could  doubt — 
remembering  they  had  been  through  many  battles — that  these 
were  rehersals  for  no  common  event. 

As  transportation  could  be  furnished,  the  greater  portion  of 
the  other  brigades  of  the  Reserve  corps  moved  from  Kenner 
to  Fort  Gaines.  On  the  18th  of  February,  the  Reserve  corps,, 
with  the  addition  of  seven  regiments,  namely,  the  Twenty-ninth 
and  Thirty-third  Iowa,  Fiftieth  Indiana,  Twenty-seventh,  Twen 
ty-eighth,  and  Thirty-fifth  "Wisconsin,  and  Seventy-serenth  Ohio, 
which  had  been  sent  down  from  the  department  of  Arkansas ; 
and  several  light  batteries,  were  organized  as  the  Thirteenth 
corps,  comprising  three  divisions,  and  Major-Gen.  Gordon 
Granger  assigned  to  its  command. 

The  Sixteenth  army  corps,  commanded  by  Major-Gen.  A.  J. 
Smith,  having  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the  two  days'  battle 
of  Nashville,  and  in  the  pursuit  of  Hood's  army,  was,  early  in 
February,  at  Eastport,  Mississippi.  The  roads  rendering  it 
impracticable  for  a  further  movement  south  with  heavy  trains, 
orders  were  sent  by  Grant  to  have  this  corps  move  round  and 
report  to  Canby.  Accordingly,  on  the  5th  and  6th  of  February, 
a  fleet  of  forty-three  river  steamboats  and  seven  tow-boats  with 
barges,  appeared  at  Eastport,  and  taking  aboard  the  Sixteenth 
corps  and  five  thousand  of  Wilson's  cavalry,  with  horses,  on 
the  7th,  moved  down  the  Tennessee  to  the  Ohio,  thence  into 


26  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

the  Mississippi.  In  eight  days  it  arrived  at  Yicksburgh,  where, 
in  pursuance  of  orders,  the  cavalry  disembarked.  But  an  un 
fortunate  blunder  in  transmitting  a  telegraphic  despatch,  caused 
the  Sixteenth  corps  also  to  land  and  go  into  camp.  But  Gen. 
Smith,  having  orders  in  his  pocket  for  his  corps  to  move  to 
New  Orleans,  hastened  down  the  river  to  the  nearest  telegraphic 
station,  and,  communicating  with  Gen.  Canby,  had  the  matter 
corrected,  and  returned  to  Yicksburgh  for  his  corps.  Four 
days  were  thus  lost.  Re-embarking,  the  Sixteenth  corps 
reached  the  suburbs  of  New  Orleans  on  the  21st,  having 
moved  thirteen  hundred  and  thirty-five  miles  in  eleven  days 
of  actual  travel.  It  then  remained  some  days  on  the  low, 
wet  ground,  a  few  of  the  regiments  occupying  Jackson's 
battle-field.  By  the  7th  of  March  it  had  arrived  at  Fort 
'Gaines. 

About  the  same  time,  Hawkins'  colored  division,  five  thou 
sand  five  hundred  strong,  arrived  at  Barrancas.  Ten  days 
later,  Lucas'  brigade  of  cavalry  arrived  at  the  same  place,  and 
the  column  forming  there  had  been  placed  under  the  command 
of  Gen.  Steele. 

The  siege-train  was  being  organized  at  Fort  Gaines,  and 
consisted  of  the  seven  batteries  of  the  First  Indiana,  and  "A" 
and  "K"  of  the  Sixth  Michigan  (heavy)  artillery,  and  Mack's 
Eighteenth  New  York. 

The  main  army  was  now  encamped  on  Dauphine  island,  in 
the  vicinity  of  Fort  Gaines,  under  shelter-tents. 

Inspections  were  frequent,  to  the  end  that  deficiencies  in 
-clothing  and  equipments  might  be  supplied  and  all  surplus 
articles  be  dispensed  with.  The  troops  received  new  cloth 
ing,  to  make  their  supply  complete. 

Canby 's  orders  to  perfect  the  organization,  equipment,  and 
mobility  of  the  army,  were  most  thorough,  and  may  be  studied 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  27 

with  profit  by  those  who  shall  hereafter  undertake  campaigns ; 
by  all,  indeed,  who  follow  the  profession  of  arms.1 

i  HEADQUARTERS, 
GENERAL  ORDERS,  j          MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  WEST  MISSISSIPPI, 

>^0>  i5.  f  NEW  ORLEANS,  LA.,  February  5tk,  1865. 

1.  The  following  extracts  from  General  Orders,  No.  4,  series  of  1864,  from 
these  headquarters,  relating  to  troops  in  the  field,  aud  to  reserve  forces  held 
in  readiness  for  field  service,  are  hereby  republished  for  careful  consideration 
and  for  strict  observance  in  spirit  and  in  letter  : 

"  All  details  from  these  troops,  for  extra  or  special  service  at  posts,  depots, 
or  hospitals,  will  at  once  be  relieved,  and  the  men  sent  to  their  regiments  and 
companies,  their  places  being  supplied,  as  far  as  practicable,  by  hired  men  or 
non-effectives.  The  number  of  clerks,  orderlies,  &c.,  will  be  reduced  whenever 
it  is  practicable 

"  Recruits  and  convalescents  for  organizations  that  are  in  the  field,  or  desig 
nated  for  field  service,  will  be  forwarded  as  rapidly  as  possible.  Efficiency 
and  mobility  will  be  secured  by  rejecting  everything  not  essential  to  these 
conditions.  The  clothing  issued  will  be  limited  to  the  suit  the  soldier  wears,  a 
change  of  underclothing,  and  an  extra  pair  of  shoes.  Coats  will  not  be  issued 
when  blouses  can  be  supplied,  and  the  articles  to  be  carried  in  the  trains  will 
be  limited  to  such  quantities  as  may  be  necessary  to  meet  probable  accidental 
losses.  Camp  equipage  will,  in  like  manner,  be  reduced  to  the  lowest  possible 
limit.  Shelter-tents,  only,  will  be  issued  to  the  troops  of  this  command.  All 
cumbrous  articles  of  mess  equipage,  regimental  and  company  desks,  will  be  left 
behind ;  and  the  records,  papers.  &c.,  absolutely  necessary  in  the  field,  will  be 
packed  in  the -lightest  and  most  compact  form.  The  equipment  of  officers  will 
correspond  to  that  of  the  men,  and  everything  in  excess  of  the  established 
allowance  will  be  rejected  by  the  inspectors. 

"  No  person,  not  in  the  military  service  of  the  United  States,  will  be  allowed 
to  accompany  any  force  operating  in  the  field. 

"  Subsistence  for  troops  in  campaign  will  be  limited  to  the  essential  articles 
of  bread  and  meat,  and  a  reduced  allowance  of  the  small  rations.  When  they 
can  be  provided,  bacon  and  hard  bread*  will  be  taken  in  preference  to  their 
equivalents,  and  the  resources  of  the  country,  in  which  the  troops  are  to  ope 
rate,  must  be  considered  in  determining  the  quantity  of  supplies  to  be  taken. 
The  number  of  rations  to  be  carried  in  the  haversacks  will  be  determined  by 
circumstances,  but  the  troops  will  habitually  have  on  hand  three  days'  cooked 
rations,  so  as  to  be  in  readiness  to  move  at  any  moment. 

"  The  land  transportation  in  every  command  will  be  put  in  perfect  order, 
and  commanders  will  make  their  preparations  in  accordance  with  the  condition 
above  stated." 

2.  The  detail  of  orderlies  for  the  headquarters  of  the  several  commands  in 


28  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

Transportation. — The  allowance  of  transportation  on  the  cam 
paign  was :  For  the  general  headquarters,  and  for  the  head 
quarters  of  each  army  coips,  three  wagons ;  lor  the  headquarters 
of  each  division,  two  wagons ;  for  the  headquarters  of  each  bri 
gade,  one  wagon ;  for  each  regiment  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  or  less,  one  wagon ;  for  each  additional  two  hundred  and 
fifty  men  or  fraction  of  that  number  (not  bss  than  fifty),  one 
wagon ;  for  each  battery,  one  wagon ;  for  each  company  of 
pioneers,  for  its  tools,  one  wagon.1 

Quarters. — Officers  as  well  as  men  were  restricted  to  shelter 
tents ;  but  for  office  purposes  three  wall  tents  were  allowed 
to  the  headquarters  of  the  army;  two  to  army  corps,  and 
one  to  division  or  brigade  headquarters,  and  one  common 
(wedge)  tent  to  each  regiment  or  battery. 

Hospital. — Hospital  tents  were  aUowed  at  the  rate  of  one 
tent  for  each  six  hundred  men,  to  be  used  only  in  division 
hospital  organizations. 

Ambulances  were  allowed  at  the  rate  of  one  to  each  four  hun 
dred  men,  one  to  each  battery,  two  to  the  headquarters  of 


this  division,  will  be  limited  to  the  absolute  necessities,  and  will  not,  except 
under  extraordinary  circumstances,  exceed  : 
For  an  infantry  brigade,  three  mounted  and  four  foot  orderlies. 
For  an  infantry  division,  four  mounted  and  five  foot  orderlies. 
For  a  cavalry  brigade,  five  mounted  orderlies. 
For  a  cavalry  division,  seven  mounted  orderlies. 

The  efficiency  of  companies  will  not  be  impaired  by  the  detail  of  non-com 
missioned  officers  as  clerks,  orderlies,  6r  on  other  special  service,  nor  will  they 
be  detached  from  their  companies  unless  the  strength  of  the  detachment,  with 
which  they  are  to  serve,  is  such  as  to  warrant  it. 
By  order  of  Maj.-Gen.  E.  E.  S.  CANBY. 

C.  T.  CHRISTENSEN, 
OFFICIAL.  Lieut.-CoL,  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

1  "  All  officers  are  enjoined  to  bear  in  mind,  that  every  man,  or  animal, 
or  pound  of  baggage,  beyond  what  is  essential  for  efficiency,  that  has  to 
be  fed,  transported,  or  guarded,  is  an  embarrassment  that  must  be  avoid 
ed."—  General  Order  No.  22,  Feb.  22, 1865. 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  29 

the  army  and  of  army  corps ;  and  to  each  division  train  of 
ambulances,  three  army  wagons  were  allowed  for  transporta 
tion  of  hospital  tents  and  mess-chests. 

Clothing  was  limited  to  the  suit  the  soldier  wore,  a  change 
of  underclothing,  and  an  extra  pair  of  shoes.  But  each  man 
had  a  blanket,  and  some  also,  perhaps  most,  took  along  their 
overcoats.  The  extra  articles  of  clothing  were  carried  by  the 
soldier  in  his  knapsack. 

Rations  were  limited  to  the  essential  articles  of  meat  (three 
quarters  of  a  pound  of  salt  meat  to  a  man  per  day),  bread, 
coffee,  sugar,  and  salt,  and  one  fourth  rations  of  soap. 

Ammunition  was  required  to  be  kept  on  hand  in  each  bat 
talion  using  small  arms,  in  the  proportion  of  one  hundred 
rounds  per  man ;  each  man  to  carry  forty  rounds  in  his 
cartridge-box ;  and  each  company  commander  always  to  hold 
in  his  possession,  and  transport  in  the  company  wagon  the 
remaining  sixty  rounds  per  man ;  but  in  case  it  could  not 
be  so  transported  the  men  carried  twenty  rounds  of  it  in 
their  knapsacks.  An  additional  one  hundred  rounds  per  man 
was  carried  in  each  division  ammunition  supply  train,  under 
charge  of  the  acting  ordance  officer.  Each  battery  carried 
as  near  two  hundred  complete  rounds  of  assorted  ammunition 
per  gun  as  the  capacity  of  the  caissons  would  admit.  And 
another  one  hundred  rounds  per  gun  was  carried  in  the 
division  train. 

Equipment. — Each  infantry  soldier  was  armed  with  the  rifled 
musket  and  common  bayonet ;  one  pick,  spade,  and  axe,  were 
also  carried  to  each  twelve  men. 

Pioneers. — In  each  division  a  pioneer  company  was  organized, 
by  the  selection  of  officers  and  men  having  aptitude  for  the  duty, 
and  who  were  well  supplied  with  spades,  shovels-,  axes,  picks, 
saws,  and  carpenters'  tools. 


30  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

General  orders  No.  20,  from  headquarters  of  the  commanding 
general,  provided  for  division  and  brigade  staff  as  follows  : 

"  II.  The  chief  quartermaster,  commissary,  engineer,  ord 
nance,  and  medical- officers  at  these  headquarters,  will  assign  an 
officer  of  their  departments  to  each  of  the  infantry  divisions  and 
cavalry  brigades  that  are  not  already  provided.  Division  com 
manders  will  appoint  the  inspectors  and  provost-marshals,  sub 
ject  to  the  approval  of  the  corps  commanders,  and  will  nominate, 
for  approval,  the  mustering  officers  for  their  divisions.  The 
same  rule,  except  in  the  case  of  mustering  officers,  will  apply  to 
infantry  brigades  when  detached  from  their  divisions 

"  IV.  The  staff  of  division  and  brigade  commanders  will  be 
limited  to  the  officers  indicated  in  paragraph  II.,  and  to  their 
assistant  adjutant-general  and  personal  aids  ;  and  no  other  staff 
or  acting  staff  officers  will  be  allowed,  except  upon  the  special 
recommendation  of  the  corps  commanders." 

Orders  were  issued  carefully  denning  the  duties  of  the  pro 
vost-marshal,  and  also  prescribing  a  system  of  foraging.  So  it 
was  prescribed  as  a  rule,  that  everj^  regiment,  on  reaching  its 
position,  should  at  once;  without  waiting  for  orders,  cover  its 
front  by  such  temporary  works  as  might  be  necessary.  Nor  was 
the  duty  to  be  intermitted  on  account  of  the  supposed  distance 
of  the  enemy  ;  and  superior  commanders  were  to  be  responsible 
that  their  flanks,  and  the  intervals  between  adjacent  commands, 
were  in  like  manner  covered. 1  Officers  were  reminded  that  tlie 
spade  and  the  pick  are  useful  adjuncts  to  the  musket  and  the 
rifle. 

1  General  Field  Order  No.  1,  March  7, 1865. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

THE    PLAN    OF    OPERATIONS 

THE  fortifications  around  Mobile  were  so  strong  that  a  direct 
movement  on  the  place,  from  the  western  shore,  would  have 
encountered  unequal  resistance,  and  involved  a  protracted  siege. 
It  was  therefore  determined  to  flank  them.  The  base  would  be 
fixed  on  the  eastern  shore  ;  and  the  main  army  moving  up  on' 
that  shore,  with  the  aid  of  the  navy,  would  carry  the  forts  on 
the  islands  and  main  land,  and  then  approach  Mobile  by 'the 
Tensas  river  or  one  of  the  channels  coming  in  above. 

On  this  plan  a  large  portion  of  the  troops  and  the  supplies 
could  be  moved  by  water  into  Fish  river,  affording  a  secure 
base  within  twenty  miles  of  Spanish  fort. 

In  the  meantime,  to  destroy  communication  by  railroad 
between  Mobile  and  Montgomery,  and  to  prevent  reinforce 
ments  coming  from  the  latter  point  to  Mobile,  or  the  garrison 
from  escaping,  a  column  of  twelve  thousand  was  to  move  out 
from  Pensacola  north.  By  moving  as  far  as  Pollard  it  would 
also  create  the  belief  that  it  was  aiming  at  Montgomery,  and 
tend  to  distract  and  deceive  the  confederates. 

In  case  the  main  army  should  reduce  the  eastern  shore 
defences  sooner  than  was  expected,  then  the  column  from 
Pensacola  could  be  ordered  on  to  Montgomery — though  this 
was  not  contemplated  ;  but  if  the  operations  were  protracted, 
it  would  move  round  and  form  a  junction  with  the  main  army. 

So,  if  the  reduction  of  those  works  demanded  a  very  long 
time,  then  the  forces  would  pass  them,  move  on  to  Mont- 


32  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

gomery — which  was  really  the  objective  point — leaving  Mobile 
to  fall  in  due  time  by  these  indirect  operations. 

It  is  to  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  difficulty  in  bringing  up 
supplies  by  land,  tended  to  retard  a  column  moving  far  into 
the  interior  more  than  any  armed  resistance  that  could  be 
expected. 

While  these  operations  should  be  progressing  a  large  column 
of  cavalry  was  to  move  down  from  North  Alabama  to  divert 
the  attention  of  Forrest  and  the  bulk  of  the  confederate  cavalry, 
then  hovering  about  Central  Alabama  and  Mississippi. 

Some  smaller  cavalry  expeditions  were  projected,  the  achieve 
ments  of  which  will  be  noticed. 


CHAPTER    Y. 

THIRTEENTH    AND    SIXTEENTH    CORPS    MOVE    TO    DANLEY'S,    ON 

FISH    RIVER. 

THE  movement  was  commenced  by  the  Thirteenth  corps, 
March  17th.  Benton's  division,  numbering  six  thousand,  pre 
ceded  by  Bertram's  brigade  of  the  Second  division — which 
during  the  campaign  continued  detached  from  its  division — 
marched  at  half-past  five  from  Fort  Morgan,  along  the  peiiin. 
sula  nine  miles,  and  went  into  camp  in  an  open  pine  forest. 
On  the  18th,  they  marched  thirteen  miles  on  a  good  road  over 
a  natural  shell  bank,  and  camped  at  three,  P.  M.,  on  Bayou 
portage.  On  the  19th,  the  unreliable  and  swampy  character 
of  the  ground  disclosed  itself,  the  firm  appearing  surface  prov 
ing,  when  wet,  to  be  a  mere  crust,  under  which  was  a  bottom 
less  quicksand.  Through  this  crust  the  wagons  sank  to  the 
hubs.  The  head  of  the  column  passing  round  Bon  Secour's 
bay,  moved  only  a  few  miles,  and  the  rear-guard  got  only  a 
inile  and  a  half.  Large  details  were  set  at  work  corduroying 
the  worst  places.  On  the  29th,  starting  at  nine,  A.  M.,  they 
moved  slowly,  the  rain  falling  in  torrents,  and  the  corduroy 
afloat,  and  made  four  miles  by  night.  Yeatch's  division  hav 
ing  crossed  from  Fort  Graines  to  Navy  cove,  the  17th,  had  now 
closed  up  on  the  Third  division,  and  halted  two  days  to  let 
the  lattor  division  get  in  advance,  but  was  obliged,  meantime, 
to  keep  heavy  details  at  work  on  the  roads. 

At  six,  the  morning  of  the  21st,  the  rain  still  pouring,  Ben- 
ton's  division  moved  011 ;  but  the  train  could  not  even  get  out 

3 


34:  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

of  park.  Every  team  seeking  an  untried  path  soon  got  naired, 
and  wagons  were  seen  in  all  directions  sunk  down  to  the  hubs. 
The  poor  animals,  in  their  struggles  to  haul  the  teams,  half 
buried  themselves.  In  this  dilemma,  long  ropes  were  made  fast 
to  the  teams,  and  the  soldiers,  with  cheerfulness  and  alacrity, 
hauled  both  animals  and  wagons  out  of  the  mire  with  a  rush  ; 
and  it  was  only  their  speed  that  saved  each  team  from  again 
sinking  at  every  rod.  The  same  laborious  efforts  were  applied 
to  the  field  artillery.  The  corps  and  division  commanders  were 
present,  wading  about  in  the  mud  to  their  knees,  and  the  latter 
himself  lending  a  hand  at  the  ropes.  In  hauling  the  Twenty- 
sixth  New  York  battery  through  a  bad  place,  where  the  newly- 
made '  corduroy  had  been  washed  away,  the  men  moved  some 
distance  in  mud  and  water  waist  deep.  These  labors  were 
being  watched  by  confederate  scouts.  Only  about  two  miles 
were  made  that  day.  The  division  went  into  camp  at  three,  P.  M., 
and  made  some  fortifications  on  their  right.  The  bay  was  only 
three  miles  distant  on  the  left.  Yet  only  two  miles  off  in  that 
direction  two  hundred  and  fifty  confederate  cavalry  camped  the 
same  night ;  and  before  dark,  hoping  to  capture  a  few  foragers 
or  stragglers,  had  driven  up  some  cattle  in  sight  of  the  camp 
of  the  Thirteenth  corps  ;  yet  without  avail,  as  the  orders  about 
foraging  were  well  enforced. 

Bertram's  brigade  having  pushed  on  with  great  energy,  and 
done  its  share  of  bridge-building  and  corduroying,  yet  enjoying 
the  privilege  of  the  advance  all  the  wary,  reached  Fish  river  the 
same  afternoon  (21st)  with  Foust's  battery  and  the  wagons. 
The  scouts  attached  to  the  brigade — thirty  men  of  the  Fourth 
Wisconsin  cavalry,  under  Lieut.  Knowles,  had  a  small  skirmish 
during  the  day.  The  same  afternoon,  Capt.  J.  J.  Smith's  com 
pany  of  pontoniers  had,  in  three  hours,  taken  the  boats  from 
raft  and  laid  a  bridge,  three  hundred  and  twenty  feet  in  length, 
over  Fish  river.  Bertram's  brigade  crossed  over  on  this  the 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  35 

next  morning,  and  went  into  camp  near  the  Sixteenth  corps,  and 
intrenched  and  felled  trees  in  their  front, 

The  22d  opened  fair.'  Late  in  the  day  this  part  of  the  column 
marched  on  through  a  pine  forest,  and  in  the  evening,  having 
gone  five  miles,  went  into  camp  on  high  ground  ;  the  rear  of  the 
division  came  up  by  the  light  of  the  burning  pitch  trees. 

The  23d,  Benton  moved  on  over  a  fair  road,  though  hilly,  six 
miles,  to  the  north  fork  of  Fish  river,  crossed  it  on  a  pontoon, 
and  went  into  camp  on  the  right  of  the  Sixteenth  corps,  the 
bands  playing,  ''Oh,  ain't  you  glad  you're  out  of  the  wilderness." 
So  wretched  had  been  the  road  the  train  was  not  all  up  for  three 
or  four  days ;  but  Col.  Mackay,  of  the  Thirty-third  Iowa,  suc 
ceeded  in  getting  a  section  of  twenty  wagons  in  that  night. 

Yeatch's  division,  having  resumed  the  march  on  the  22d,  en 
countered  similar  difficulties  and  performed  similar  toils  to  those 
that  retarded  the  advance. 

The  afternoon  of  the  24th,  when  within  a  few  miles  of  Dan- 
ley's,  the  column,  not  being  well  closed  up,  was  boldly  attacked 
by  a  small  party  of  confederate  scouts,  and  some  men  and  ani 
mals  captured,  in  the  following  manner  : 

Attack  on  the  Train. — On  the  morning  of  the  24th,  Lieut.  Sib- 
ley,  of  the  Fifteenth  confederate  cavalry,  acting  as  scout  for 
Gen.  Lidell,  left  Greenwood  with  eight  men,  and  passing  round 
Polecat  creek,  came  in  sight  of  the  First  division,  two  miles 
above  Magnolia,  by  the  middle  of  the  afternoon.  The  small 
party  halted  and  watched  for  stragglers.  Soon  they  saw  five 
men  by  themselves,  who  appeared  to  be  resting ;  and  cautiously 
moving  toward  them  till  within  a  few  yards,  then  spurring  their 
horses  into  a  keen  gallop,  and  raising  a  yell,  they  charged  and 
captured  them.  The  men  were  surprised  and  made  no  resistance. 
They  belonged  to  the  First  brigade,  the  commander  of  which 
was  sitting  not  far  off.  Two  of  the  men  were  from  the  Twenty- 
ninth  Wisconsin,  one  being  a  drummer.  Disarming  the  prison- 


36  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

ers,  and  leaving  three  men  only  to  guard  them,  Lieut.  Sibley, 
with  the  balance  of  his  men,  in  half  an  hour  charged  on  the 
train,  a  few  hundred  yards  below,  and  captured  a  few  wragoners 
and  ten  mules,  and  was  prevented  from  further  mischief  by  the 
Ninety-ninth  Illinois  coming  up.  He  then  returned  with  all  his 
prisoners  to  Greenwood,  and  from  there  despatched  to  Gen. 
Lidell,  at  Blakely/that  he  learned  from  the  prisoners  that  Gen. 
A.  J.  Smith  had  a  command  on  the  Western  shore  to  operate 
against  Mobile — an  error  which,  whether  fabricated  or  not  by 
the  prisoners,  helped  to  compensate  for  their  capture. 

This  gallant  feat  of  Lieut.  Sibley  created  some  excitement  in 
the  column.  Men  were  hurried  up  from  the  rear,  and  some 
came  back  from  the  front  to  the  scene  of  the  affair. 

The  division  crossed  Fish  river  the  same  evening,  and  went 
into  canip  with  the  rest  of  the  corps. 

Demonstration  on  the  Western  Shore. — While  the  main  army 
was  moving  up  the  east  shore,  a  demonstration  was  also  made 
on  the  west  shore,  to  create  the  impression  that  the  principal 
movement  was  there  to  be  made.  At  noon,  on  the  18th,  Col. 
J.  B.  Moore,  with  his  brigade — First  of  Third  division,  Six 
teenth  corps — consisting  of  the  Thirty-third  Wisconsin,  Ninety- 
fifth  and  Seventy-second  Illinois,  and  Forty-fourth  Missouri — 
seventeen  hundred  effective — and  two  Koclman  guns  of  the 
First  Indiana  light  battery,  embarked  for  Cedar  point.  Arriv 
ing  there,  the  pier  was  found  nearly  destroyed,  and  the  men 
landed  by  passing  in  single  file  over  a  slight  trestle-work.  The 
confederates  occupied  the  point  in  small  force,  which  was  driven 
back  two  miles,  without  any  trouble,  by  the  Seventy-second 
Illinois,  Lieut.-Col.  Stockton  commanding.  The  artillery  was 
landed  by  means  of  a  temporary  raft  made  with  boats ;  and 
commencing  repairs  on  the  pier  at  daylight  the  next  morning, 
the  horses  were  got  on  shore  by  tei_,  and  at  two,  P.  M.,  Moore 
moved  forward,  and  at  Alabama  point,  two  miles  up  the  bay, 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  37 

met  the  confederate  outposts,  consisting  of  two  mounted  com 
panies,  which  fell  back  with  slight  resistance,  the  Ninety-fifth 
Illinois,  Col.  Blanding,  being  in  the  advance  and  pursuing  them. 
At  five,  P.  M,,  Moore  went  into  camp,  and  that  night  and  the 
next  morning  had  the  calls  repeated  three  or  four  times,  to 
impress  the  enemy  with  the  magnitude  of  his  forces.  At  eight 
o'clock  the  next  morning  (20th),  he  advanced  to  Fowle  river, 
where  he  met  some  resistance,  the  confederates  having  set  the 
bridge  on  fire  and  taken  position  on  the  opposite  side ;  but  he 
brought  up  his  two  guns  and  threw  over  some  skirmishers 
without  difficulty.  Here  he  halted,  not  having  orders  to  go 
further,  and  was  gratified  to  learn  that  his  force  had  been  re 
ported  in  Mobile,  at  from  four  thousand  to  six  thousand.  In 
this  vicinity,  and  at  different  points  on  the  road,  some  torpedoes 
were  found,  which  were  narrowly  escaped ;  and  what  was  more 
singular,  respectable  American  inhabitants  were  found  who  had 
never  seen  the  United  States  flag,  and  desired  Colonel  Moore 
to  show  it  to  them,  which  he  did.  On  the  22d,  he  received 
orders  to  embark  for  Fish  river,  and  on  the  23d,  rejoined  his 
division. 

Movement  of  the  Sixteenth  Corps. — The  Sixteenth  corps  moved 
on  transports  from  Fort  Gaines  to  Danley's  ferry  landing,  on 
north  bank  of  Fish  river ;  and  the  boats  having  to  make  two 
trips,  the  movement  occupied  the  20th,  21st,  and  22d.  Carr  was 
ordered,  with  the  boats  carrying  his  division,  to  stand  boldly  up 
the  bay,  as  if  intending  to  land  on  the  main  shore,  and  then  fall 
back  and  enter  Fish  river,  which  was  done. 

Fish  river  is  a  dark,  narrow,  and  crooked  stream,  and  such 
boats  as  the  Tarrascon  and  Starlight  seemed  to  fill  it  to  its 
banks.  The  latter,  some  distance  from  its  mouth,  swell  into 
moderate  bluffs,  which  were  covered  with  a  generous  growth  of 
cypress,  magnolia,  and  pine,  and  fringed  with  a  variety  of 
flowers  and  shrubs.  Occasionally  a  house  was  passed,  the  poor 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

inmates  of  which,  haying  but  a  feeble  conception  of  the  troops, 
habitually  hung  out  a  white  flag.  A  bald  eagle,  from  the  crest 
of  a  lofty  pine,  screamed  out  a  welcome  to  the  youthful  vete 
rans  who  thickly  covered  the  decks  ;  and  they,  remembering 
from  their  school-books  how  the  ancient  heroes  received  such 
an  omen,  accepted  this  as  a  favorable  augury,  and  shouted  out 
their  usual  cheers. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

THREE  DAYS  AT  FISH  RIVER. 

THE  Sixteenth  corps  remained  in  camp  at  Fish  river  for  the 
Thirteenth  corps  to  come  up  by  land,  and  for  supplies,  trans 
portation,  and  some  of  the  heavy  guns,  to  come  up  by  water. 

Fish  river,  at  Danley's  ferry,  is  eighty  yards  wide  and  the  cur 
rent  sluggish.  The  north  .bank  is  moderately  high,  the  soil 
sandy,  and  covered  with  an  open  pine  forest.  Near  by  were  the 
ruins  of  a  mill,  and  four  or  five  humble  dwellings. 

Gen.  Carr  continued  the  brigade  drills  in  his  division  which  he 
had  commenced  at  Fort  Gaines,  soon  after  assuming  its  com 
mand,  and  constantly  improved  its  discipline  and  efficiency. 
And,  in  subsequent  marches,  no  division  of  the  corps  was  so 
poorly  supplied  as  that  with  chickens  and  pigs ;  nor  did  any 
division  have  higher  reputation  for  gallantry. 

All  this  while  the  confederate  Gen.  Lidell,  commanding  the 
eastern  division  district  of  the  gulf,  had  his  scouts  actively 
employed,  endeavoring  to  learn  Canby's  strength  and  move 
ments.1 


1  The  following  despatches,  as  to  movements  before  Spanish  fort,  are  copied 
from  Gen.  Lidell's  Letter  and  Despatch  Book  : 

Capt.  Lewis  (A.  A.  A.  Gr.),  to  Capt.  Morgan,  commanding  cavalry  at  Monlrose: 
"  Hd.  Qrs.  East.  Div.  Dist.  Gulf,  Blakely,  March  20, 1865,  2:15  p.  M.— Don't  let 
the  enemy  come  up  the  eastern  shore,  or  from  Fish  river,  without  timely  notify 
ing  these  headquarters.  Watch  closely,  and  don't  allow  yourself  to  be  surprised. 
Give  timely  notice  to  Maj.  Kimball,  comd'g  the  infantry  near  Hollywood." 

Same  to  Lieut.-Col  Brown,  commanding  at  Spanish  Fort :  "  March  20,  5  p.  M. 
—Scrutinize  most  closely  all  persons  to  whom  you  give  passes,  and  pass  no 


40  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

The  23d,  the  confederate  cavalry  came  up  at  daylight  and  felt 
the  pickets  on  Me  Arthur's  front.  Two  hours  afterward  they  ad 
vanced  a  line  of  skirmishers  afoot,  in  which  skirmish  a  man  of 
the  Eighth  Wisconsin  was  seriously  wounded,  and  two  others 
slightly  wounded.  The  confederates  lost  one  killed  and  two 
wounded.  But  the  firing  was  more  general  and  protracted 
along  the  line  than  the  event  justified. 

The  navy  having  kept  pace  with  the  army,  on  the  24th, 
some  of  its  guns  shelled  the  woods  from  the  bay. 

woman  without  you  know  well  who  they  are.  There  is  a  Mrs. ,  who,  it 

is  said,  is  a  spy  for  the  enemy,  and  whom  it  is  said  has  recently  obtained 
passes  from  Spanish  fort." 

Gen.  Lidell  to  Col.  Garner,  Chief  of  Staff,  Mobile :  "  BlaMy,  Mar.  20.  ...  At 
last  accounts,  since  dark.  Col.  Spence  was  at  Whitby's  bridge,  on  Fish  river, 
trying  to  make  discoveries  through  his  scouts  in  various  directions,  as  to  the 
locality  of  the  enemy." 

"  This  afternoon,  from  two  o'clock  to  dark,  fifteen  gunboats  have  been  shell 
ing  the  eastern  shore,  from  Rock  creek  to  the  village,  about  six  miles.  No 
damage  done  except  to  houses Spanish  fort  is  in  a  less  state  of  prepara 
tion  now  than  this  place,  and  I  desire  to  put  all  the  work  on  it  I  can."  .... 

Gen.  Lidell  to  Col.  Spence,  commanding  cavalry,  Montrose:  "Mar.  21,  8:45 
p.  M. — Can  you  not  possibly  capture  some  of  the  enemy's  pickets,  to  find  out  the 
force  they  have  ?  .  If  you  cannot,  make  your  preparations  to  drive  them  in  to 
morrow  at  daylight,  to  see  what  they  have." 

Gen.  Lidell  to  Col.  Garner:  "March  22,  Iiy2  A.M.— Col.  Spence  reports 
(8,  A.  M.)  that  he  failed  to  capture  the  enemy's  pickets  at  Danley's  mill  last 
night,  as  chain  pickets  were  too  close  to  the  main  body.  Discovered  only 
infantry  as  yet.  No  force  has  landed  on  bay  shore."  .... 

Same  to  Same:  "  March  22. — Despatch  just  received  from  Lieut.  Sibley,  that 
a  prisoner,  captured  on  East  Prong  of  Fish  river,  states  he  belongs  to  Ninety- 
tirst  Illinois  regiment,  Thirteenth  army  corps,  Gen.  Granger  commanding,  com 
prising  9,000  (nine  thousand)  men.  Three  regiments  were  in  the  advance  at 
Danley's  mill — three  regiments  near  Magnolia,  as  yet  but  fifteen  pieces  of  ar 
tillery  with  them — balance  coming.  Assisted  in  loading  the  wagons,  and  heard 
Commissary  say  that  he  had  issued  rations  for  nine  thousand  men." 

Lidell  to  Maury  :  "  March  23,  8  : 45  A.  M. — Every  man  sent  to  the  enemy's 
lines  has  either  been  unable  to  get  admission,  or,  if  admitted,  has  not  returned 
to  report." 

Capt.  Lewis  to  Capt.  Bush  Jones,  commanding  infantry,  near  Hollywood: 
"  March  23,  4 :  50  P.  M. — Col.  Spence  reports,  that  the  men  you  sent  him  re 
fused  to  advance  upon  the  enemy,  and  the  general  directs  that  you  furnish  him 
better  men." 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  41 

At  this  time  some  disappointment  was  being  felt  in  the 
camp  for  the  lack  of  mails. 

Such  of  the  soldiers  as  were  disposed  assembled  in  religious 
meetings  when  circumstances  permitted.  One  pleasant  even- 
ning,  in  Gilbert's  brigade  (Garrard's  division,  Sixteenth  corps), 
a  thousand  men  were  assembled,  and  the  woods  being  lit  up 
by  fires  of  pine-knots,  the  soldiers  poured  forth  their  fervent 
prayers  and  joined  their  voices  in  sacred  hymns.  Nor  will 
those  who  remember  such  heroes  as  Havelock  deny  that 
piety  is  a  help  to  valor. 

On  the  25th,  Canby  moved  forward  with  both  corps  and1 
some  of  the  heavy  artillery;  the  men  carrying  four  days' 
rations  in  haversacks.  The  Thirtieth  Missouri  was  left  to 
guard  the  pontoon  bridge.  The  Sixteenth  corps  marched  at 
eight,  A.  M.  Hubbard's  brigade  of  Me  Arthur's  division  being 
in  the  advance.  The  Thirteenth  corps  was  under  way  by 
one,  P.  M. 

McArthur's  division  had  got  but  a  short  distance  when 
a  small  force  of  the  confederates  was  met,  which  was 
steadily  pressed  back  by  four  companies  of  the  Ninth  Min 
nesota  deployed  as  skirmishers.  There  was  more  or  less 
skirmishing  during  the  day,  but  the  column  was  not  retarded. 
Col.  Marshall,  commanding  Third  brigade,  First  division,  Six 
teenth  corps,  was  wounded  in  the  back  of  his  neck  by  the 
ball  of  a  sharpshooter,  but  stopped  only  long  enough  to  have 
the  wound  dressed.  The  Sixteenth  corps  camped  at  Deer 
Park,  having  marched  twelve  miles.  The  Thirteenth  corps 
encamped  in  the  same  neighborhood.  And  the  troops  in 
trenched  in  compliance  with  the  general  order. 

Bertram's  brigade  of  Second  division,  Thirteenth  corps,  had 
had  moved  on  the  left  road  to  Montrose.  At  this  place,  which 
is  a  pleasant  summer  resort,  the  inhabitants  were  all  con 
federates,  and  some  of  their  cavalry  had  been  there  during 


42  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

the  day.  One  of  the  ladies  in  a  defiant  manner  told  a  regi 
mental  commander  he  would  find  his  match  on  the  morrow — 
that  Sherman  had  lately  been  defeated  with  great  loss,  and 
that  victory  had  now  turned  in  their  favor ;  a  fair  specimen 
of  stories  which  were  ever  being  reported  and  did  much  to 
keep  up  the  spirits  of  the  confederates. 

The  next  day,  26th,  Bertram's  brigade  moved  to  D'Olieve's 
creek  over  a  hilly  road,  the  confederate  cavalry  hanging  along 
their  front  all  the  way.  The  bridge  over  the  creek  had  been 
•destroyed,  and  both  banks  at  the  ford  were  thickly  planted 
with  torpedoes,  and  in  attempting  to  cross,  the  explosions 
fatally  wounded  three  men  and  killed  four  horses  ;  fifty  torpe 
does  were  there  taken  up  the  next  day.  Being  now  in  the 
vicinity  of  Spanish  fort,  the  brigade  camped  on  the  creek  ; 
Benton's  division  of  the  Thirteenth  corps  being  in  sight  on 
the  right.  There  were  indications  of  the  presence  of  confed 
erate  infantry,  a  few  of  whom  were  captured  by  Bertram's 
brigade.  During  the  day  its  scouts  had  captured  a  confed 
erate  telegraph  station  with  the  latest  despatches. 

Granger,  with  Yeatch's  and  Benton's  divisions — the  former 
in  the  advance — after  getting  two  miles  from  Deer  Park, 
turned  to  the  left  on  a  road  running  northwesterly,  and  struck 
D'Olieve's  creek  about  noon  a  mile  to  the  right  of  Bertram. 
The  banks  were  here  high  and  somewhat  steep,  but  the  stream 
was  not  wide,  and  a  bridge  was  soon  made,  over  which  the 
column  passed.  Ascending  the  hill  on  the  north  bank,  the 
column  soon  moved  down  its  opposite  side,  where  was  another 
stream,  which  was  bridged  and  crossed ;  and  after  rising  the 
high  ground  beyond,  both  divisions  went  into  camp,  Veatch's 
in  front  and  in  line  of  battle.  The  train  and  rear-guard  were 
not  all  in  till  nine  in  the  evening. 

The  Twenty-first  Iowa,  Lieut. -Col.  Van  Anda  commanding, 
had  been  in  the  advance  all  day;  and  the  skirmishers  from 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  43 

that  regiment,  under  Maj.  Boardman,  with  those  from  the 
Ninety-ninth  Illinois,  Col.  A.  C.  Matthews,  had  been  warmly 
engaged  at  different  times.  Granger  rode  along  the  line  at 
dusk,  and  thinking  the  pickets  not  far  enough  out,  ordered  an 
advance.  The  skirmishers  with  their  reserves  then  moved  for 
ward  half  a  mile  up  a  gradual  rise  in  the  pine  timber ;  and 
the  leaves  and  underbrush  having  been  fired  by  the  confed 
erates,  the  light  gave  the  latter  a  full  view  of  what  was  com 
ing  ;  whereupon  they  rose  up,  gave  a  heavy  volley  of  musketry, 
but  soon  fell  back.  The  fire  was  promptly  returned,  and  Gran 
ger,  being  in  the  advance,  narrowly  escaped  ;  for  it  was  dark, 
and  he  was  a  few  moments  between  the  fire  of  his  own 
reserves  and  that  of  the  confederates.  In  the  Twenty-first 
Iowa,  Private  Allen  was  killed,  and  three  men  were  wounded. 
In  the  Ninety-ninth  Illinois,  Private  Robinson  was  killed.  At 
midnight  both  regiments  were  relieved  by  the  Forty-seventh 
Indiana,  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-first  New  York. 

Leaving  Spanish  fort  three  miles  on  its  left,  the  Sixteenth 
corps  marched  on  a  direct  route  to  C.  Sibley's  mill.  Garrard's 
division  had  the  advance,  and  at  the  head  of  the  column,  the 
Tenth  Kansas,  Lieut.-Col.  Hills,  and  four  companies  of  the 
Sixth  Minnesota,  under  Major  H.  S.  Bailey,  were  deployed  as 
skirmishers.  Sharp  firing  commenced  as  soon'  as  the  head  ot 
the  column  had  moved  a  mile,  and  continued  all  the  way.' 
there  being  a  detention  of  two  hours.  But  no  serious  resistance 
was  met  till  the  bridge  at  Sibley's  mill  was  reached,  which  was 
finally  crossed,  and  the  corps  went  into  camp  on  high  ground. 
a  mile  north  of  Bayou  Minette,  on  which  Sibley's  mill  is 
situated,  the  distance  marched  being  ten  miles.  Of  the  con 
federates  who  were  killed,  three  were  buried  near  the  bridge, 
and  there  were  some  wounded.  The  Sixth  Minnesota  lost  twc 
men  captured,  and  the  Tenth  Kansas  two  wounded.  The  sec 
ond  Tennessee  (federal)  cavalry  had  two  men  wounded. 


44  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

Plans  and  Position  of  the  Confederates. — At  this  time  the 
confederate  department  commander  was  Lieut.-Gen.  Richard 
Taylor,  headquarters  at  Meredian,  Mississippi ;  Maj.-Gen.  D. 
H.  Maury  was  in  command  of  the  district  of  the  gulf,  with 
headquarters  at  Mobile. 

The  garrison  of  Mobile,  including  troops  on  eastern  shore, 
numbered  about  nine  thousand.1  There  were,  on  the  27th  of 
March,  also  upward  of  a  thousand  blacks  subject  to  the  orders 
of  the  engineer.  Lieut.-Gen.  Taylor  telegraphed  Lee  that  he 
was  ready  to  receive  any  attack  that  might  be  made  there." 
Maury' s  command  also  embraced  the  garrisons  on  the  eastern 
shore,  where  the  senior  officer  was  Brig.-Gen.  Lidell.  The 
latter's  headquarters  had  been  at  a  cottage  on  the  Blakely  road, 
about  a  mile  outside  of  the  fortifications  at  Blakely,  his  troops 
being  camped  on  the  high  ground  in  an  open  pine  forest  a  little 
further  to  the  front.  These  forces  comprised  French's  division, 
then  commanded  by  Brig.-Gen.  Cockrell,  including  the  brigades 
of  Col.  Gates  and  Col.  Barry  ;  the  brigades  of  Brig.-Gens.  J.  T. 
Holtzclaw  and  R.  L.  Gibson ;  Ector's  Texas  brigade,  then  com 
manded  by  Col.  Andrews,  and  Gen.  Thomas'  Alabama  re 
serves — the  whole  effective  infantry  numbering  about  six  thou 
sand.  There  were  also  three  hundred  cavalry,  and  inside  the 
works  several  batteries.  All  of  these  troops,  except  the  reserves, 
and  perhaps  the  cavalry,  were  veterans  from  Hood's  army. 


1  Lieut.-Gen.  Taylor  to  Maury :  "  March  24, 1865. — Should  the  enemy  give 
Mobile  the  '  go  by,'  and  march  on  Selma  or  Montgomery,  it  may  become 
necessary  suddenly  to  throw  six  or  seven  thousand  infantry  up  the  river  from 
Mobile,  to  assist  the  cavalry." 

3  Taylor  to  Lee:  "  March  27. — Enemy  has  thrown  his  large  force  to  eastern 
side  of  Mobile  bay,  leaving  nothing  on  west  side.  I  am  ready  to  receive  any 
attack  he  may  make  at  Mobile." 

Taylor  to  Maury :  "  March  25. — If  Steele  is  marching  to  Montgomery,  you 
ought,  by  concentrating,  be  able  to  whip  the  force  approaching  the  Spanish 
tort." 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  45 

Holtzclaw's  brigade  was  still  farther  to  the  front,  on  outpost 
duty  at  O.  Sibley's  mill  (four  miles  north  of  C.  Sibley's),  where 
were  some  breastworks  and  a  few  light  guns.  In  the  road  were 
a  number  of  torpedoes. 

On  the  23d,  while  Col.  Spence  with  cavalry  was  scouting 
toward  Fish  river,  an  infantry  support  under  Col.  Bush  Jones 
of  Alabama,  was  at  Hollywood.  On  the  24th,  Gen.  Gibson  with 
a  column  of  infantry  and  artillery  ha 3.  moved  down  to  the 
"village,"  eight  miles  below  Spanish  fort,  and  there  halted. 
The  same  evening,  Bertram's  brigade  having  pushed  forward 
resolutely  to  Montrose,  three  miles  from  the  village,  and 
Canby's  other  columns  being  on  the  move,  Gibson  faced 
about  and  took  position  on  the  hill  north  of  D'Olieve's  creek, 
and  there  remained  on  the  25th.  Gen.  Cockrell  with  his 
division  was  now  (the  25th)  posted  four  miles  northeast  of 
Gibson  at  Alexis  spring,  being  three  miles,  south  of  C.  Sib 
ley's  mill.  Capt.  Tutt  was  ordered  to  withdraw  from  Green 
wood  to  Sibley's  mill  and  scout  on  the  road  to  Durant's.  Col. 
Spence  was  skirmishing  in  front  of  Bertram's  brigade  which 
he  took  for  a  division,1  and  was  instructed  by  Lidell,  if  pressed 
across  D'Olieve's  creek;  to  return  by  Alexis  spring  and  the 
Sibley  road.  That  forenoon  Lidell  was  at  Spanish  fort;  and 
thinking  that  Granger's  corps  only  was  approaching,  and 
judging  from  the  bad  roads  that  the  divisions  would  be  sepa 
rated,  had  concluded  to  offer  battle  the  next  morning  on  the 
north  bank  of  D'Olieve's  creek,  where  the  ground  is  high  and 
hilly;  and  this  was  approved  by  the  generals  under  him. 
Gibson  with  two  brigades  was  to  form  on  the  right,  Cock 
rell  with  three  brigades  on  the  left,  and  Holtzclaw  being 

1  Gen.  Lidell  to  Col.  Spente," commanding  near  village:"  "  Blakely,  March 
25. — I  will  be  fit  D'Olieve's  ford  early  to-morrow,  say  by  seven  o'clock.  Can 
you  ascertain  how  far  this  division  is  in  advance  of  the  main  body  of  the  army  ? 
Can  we  attack  it  before  support  can  come  to  it?" 


46  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

held  in  the  rear  would,  as  soon  as  the  engagement  com 
menced,  move  round  and  strike  the  federals  on  their  right 
flank.  And  they  estimated  that  their  effective  force  of  in 
fantry  would  be  about  six  thousand. 

Gibson  already  occupied  the  proposed  line,  having,  the  after 
noon  of  the  25th,  three  thousand  in  line  of  battle.  That 
evening,  Lidell  learned  that  the  Sixteenth  corps  was  also 
advancing  with  the  Thirteenth,  and  so  fast  that  he  feared  he 
would  not  be  able  to  get  the  rest  of  his  forces  concentrated 
in  season.  He  appeared  to  have  been  active  day  and  night 
eliciting  information  and  making  the  best  possible  use  of  his 
troops.1  The  next  morning,  finding  his  position  was  being- 
flanked  by  the  Sixteenth  corps,  the  proposed  offer  of  battle 

1  Capl.  Lewis  to  Gen.  Holtzdaw  :  "  Blakely,  March  26. — The  Brig.-Gen.  com 
manding  directs  that  you  push  forward  your  work  as  much  as  possible  in  cut 
ting  down  the  timber  in  front  of  your  position The  enemy  are  in  force 

on  the  D'Olieve  and  Blakely  road,  in  front  of  Spanish  fort,  and  their  fleet  mass 
ing  off  Hollywood  and  Montrose.  Please  send  at  once  what  information  you 
get  from  your  scouts." 

Lidell  to  Gibson  :  "  March  26. — Some  of  our  cavalry  are  cut  off  between 
Spanish  fort  and  Bay  Minette.  The  enemy  are  advancing  by  Sibley's  mills  ;  if 
they  come  by  you  keep  them  at  Spanish  fort." 

Lidell  to  Maury :  "  Blakely,  March  25,  9:20  P.  M. — Our  views  fully  coincide  ; 
unless  able  to  concentrate,  shall  not  risk  engagement  in  detail.  Will  return  to 
front  by  seven  A.  M.  to-morrow,  and  soon  afterwards  hope  to  meet  you  at  Span 
ish  fort ;  please  not  to  fail  to  come.  Enemy's  advance  division,  five  to  six 
thousand,  headed  by  five  hundred  cavalry — no  ordnance  or  ambulance  wagons. 
Gen.  Gibson's  scouts  saw  enemy's  column,  and  captured  the  prisoner  (drafts 
man)  sent  over.  A  map  in  his  possession  embraced  the  eastern  shore  only  to 
Blakely — showing  the  design  of  enemy  to  get  possession  of  this  side." 

Lidell  to  Maury:  "  Hd.  Qrs.,  near  (0.)  Sibleys,  March  26,  12:30  p.  M.— Your 
despatch  received  while  engaged  placing  troops  in  position  at  this  place.  The 
eneni}7  is  at  Cyrus  Sibley's  mill,  and  halted  just  now.  He  made  too  wide  a  cir. 
cnit  for  me  to  concentrate  the  command  on  him.  Gen.  Gibson  was  at  D'Olieve 
creek,  and  another  column  was  reported  moving  in  that  direction.  I  have  not 
heard  from  Gen.  Gibson  since  reaching  this  point.  C.  Sibley's  mill  is  four  miles 
distant." 

Same  to  Gibson :  "  March  26  (Sibley's). — Enemy  stopped  four  miles  from  this 
point. "  What  is  in  your  front?" 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  47 

oatside  of  the  works  was  abandoned.  The  troops  that  be 
longed  at  Blakely  were  ordered  to  retire  in  that  direction. 
Cockrell  withdrew  over  the  Bay  Minette  bridge,  burned  it, 
and  passing  round  near  Blakely,  moved  out  on  the  Sibley 
road  to  watch  the  Sixteenth  corps.  Gibson  was  ordered  to 
fall  back  into  Spanish  fort ;  but  to  develop  the  attacking 
army  before  doing  so ;  which  we  shall  see  was  in  a  gallant 
manner  done. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

SPANISH  FORT— ITS  INVESTMENT. 

THE  line  of  field  fortifications  known  as  Spanish  fort  is  on  the 
bay  shore,  seven  miles  due  east  of  Mobile.  The  traveller  leav 
ing  the  Montgomery  railroad,  and  proceeding  by  steamer  from 
Tensas  to  Mobile,  in  a  few  minutes  comes  in  sight  of  Blakely. 
Passing  on,  he  will,  in  half  an  hour,  discern  off  to  his  left,  and 
beyond  some  low,  marshy  islands,  a  clearing,  on  the  wooded 
shore,  and  a  high,  red  bluff.  This  latter  is  the  site  of  Spanish 
fort. 

Old  Spanish  fort  is  a  bastioned  work,  nearly  enclosed,  and 
built  on  a  bluff  whose  shape  projects  abruptly  to  the  water.  Its 
parapet,  on  the  bay  side,  was  partly  natural,  being  made  by 
excavating  the  earth  from  the  side  of  the  bluff,  and  was  thirty 
feet  in  thickness.  The  fort  was  armed  with  Vll-inch  colum- 
biads  and  thirty-pounder  Parrotts — the  latter  made  at  Selma— 
and  was  designated  as  No.  1.  Extending  around  that,  in 
a  semicircle,  was  a  continuous  line  of  breastworks  and  re 
doubts.  The  right  of  this  line  commenced  four  hundred  yards 
down  the  shore,  on  the  highest  and  most  prominent  bluff,  up 
ward  of  one  hundred  feet  above  the  water,  with  a  strong, 
enclosed  fort,  called  McDermett  (No.  2),  and  armed  with  ten 
heavy  guns.  The  slope  of  the  bluff,  toward  the  bay,  is  precipi 
tous,  and  from  its  base  to  the  water  is  a  marsh  two  hundred 
yards  wide,  on  which  the  timber  had  been  felled.  To  the  north 
and  left  the  descent  was  gradual,  along  which  extended  a  line  of 
rifle-pits,  crossing  a  ravine  and  stream  of  water,  and  then  up  the 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  49 

slope  of  another  bluff,  on  which  was  a  strong  battery,  designated 
as  No.  3.  From  there  the  line  of  works  continued  six  hundred 
yards  in  a  northerly  direction,  and  then  turned  toward  the  bay, 
striking  the  marsh  on  Bay  Minette  at  a  point  about  a  mile 
above  old  Spanish  fort.  This  outer  line  of  works  was  upward  of 
two  miles  in  length,  and  the  batteries  were  all  on  high  and  com 
manding  ground.  The  surface  was  covered  with  open  pine 
timber,  but  in  front  of  the  outer  line  of  works  the  trees  were 
felled  for  a  few  hundred  yards.  Every  ravine  had  borne  a 
heavy  growth  of  hard  wood,  which,  having  been  slashed,  made, 
with  the  underbrush  and  vines,  an  almost  impassable  obstruc 
tion.  The  ditch  in  front  of  the  breastworks  was  five  feet  deep 
and  eight  feet  wide,  but  in  front  of  Fort  McDermett  it  was 
deeper  and  wider.  In  front  of  the  batteries  were,  also,  detached 
rifle-pits,  for  sharpshooters;  and  along  the  entire  front  was  a 
line  of  abatis  fifteen  feet  wide.  On  the  extreme  left  the  works 
wrere  unfinished. 

Toward  the  interior  the  surface  continued  undulating  and 
wooded-;  but  no  spot  was  so  commanding  as  the  bare  crest  of 
McDermett. 

The  reader  will  bear  in  mind  that  these  fortifications  were 
made  to  cover  and  protect  the  island  batteries  Huger  and  Tracy, 
which  were  three  thousand  yards  distant. 

Attack  on  the  Federal  Pickets. — At  daylight,  on  the  morning 
of  the  27th,  a  detachment  of  four  hundred  confederate  infantry, 
under  command  of  Col.  Richard  Lindsay,  carefully  moved  down 
within  musket-range  of  Veatch's  picket,  fired  a  volley,  and, 
with  a  yell,  charged  between  the  flanks  of  the  Forty-seventh 
Indiana  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-first  New  York.  Tho 
right  of  the  latter  regiment  was  driven  back  in  some  confu 
sion  towards  the  main  line,  but  shortly  regained  its  position. 
The  confederates  got  near  enough  to  see  the  strong  front  of 
Veatch's  division,  which  was  quickly  in  line  behind  their  newly- 

4 


50  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

made  breastworks,  but  were  soon  compelled  to  retire.  The 
tiring  was  brisk  for  a  few  minutes,  and  the  confederates  lost 
one  officer  and  several  men  wounded.1  The  loss  of  the  Forty- 
seventh  Indiana  was  three  men  wounded. 

Investment  of  Spanish  Fort. — Gen.  Carr  learned,  late  on  the 
evening  of  the  26th,  that  the  Sixteenth  corps  would  turn  back 
in  the  morning  against  Spanish  fort ;  and  knowing  it  would 
be  his  turn  in  the  advance,  he  gave  the  requisite  instructions 
to  his  brigade  commanders.  The  morning  of  the  27th  came 
with  a  prospect  of  heavy  rain,  which  to  veteran  soldiers  was 
some  sign  of  a  battle.  The  men  had  taken  their  accustomed 
breakfast,  of  hard-bread,  coffee,  and  a  slice  of  bacon,  toasted 
on  a  stick — as  Achilles  cooked  the  fat  chine  at  the  feast  for 
the  heroes.  The  usual  hum  of  talk  and  speculation  was  heard 
around  the  expiring  tires  of  their  bivouac.  By  the  men  in 
the  ranks  all  plans  of  strategy  are  freely  canvassed  ;  and  up 
to  this  morning  they  had  expected  to  move  on  to  the  Alabama 
river.  Soon  was  heard  the  spirited  roll  on  the  drum  to  "  fall 
in,"  greeted  by  that  habitual  and  never-to-be-forgotten  shout 
or  cheer  of  the  men.  Then  the  cartridge-box,  with  its  "  forty 
rounds"  is  buckled  on ;  the  blanket  is  twisted  up  and  thrown 
around  the  shoulders ;  the  intrenching  tools  are  picked  up  ; 
the  muskets  taken  ;  each  company  is  formed,  the  roll  called, 
and  at  the  time  fixed,  whether  in  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  the 
regiments  are  in  line. 

Leaving  Garrard's  division  at  Sibley's  mill,  Smith  put  the 
First  and  Third  divisions  of  his  corps  in  motion.  Carr's  (Third) 
division  had  the  advance,  with  Geddes'  (Third)  brigade  in  ad- 


1  Gibson  to  Lidell:  "Spanish  Fort,  March  27,  7:35  A.  M. — Drove  in  the 
enemy's  skirmishers  at  daylight,  capturing  guns,  knapsacks,  and  blankets. 
They  ran  back  to  their  log  works,  and  appeared  in  a  strong  and  extended  line 
of  battle.  We  had  several  men  wounded.  Several  launches  discovered  sound 
ing  in  the  cove  below\  The  guns  will  drive  them  away." 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  51 

vance  of  the  division  ;  and  at  the  head  of  the  column  was  the 
Eighty-first  Illinois,  numbering  three  hundred,  five  companies 
of  which,  under  Col.  A.  W.  Bogers,  were  deployed  as  skir 
mishers,  with  the  other  five  companies,  under  Capt.  S.  L.  Camp 
bell,  in  reserve.  In  these  woods  were  numerous  trails  which 
had  been  made  in  hauling  lumber  to  the  neighboring  mills, 
and  the  guns  being  silent  at  Spanish  fort,  the  column  had  to 
find  its  way  as  best  it  could. 

Skirmish  at  Minute  Bridge. — Carr  had  gone  four  miles,  and 
his  advance,  the  Eighty-first  Illinois,  had  just  passed  the  brow 
of  the  hill  overlooking  Minette  bayou,  where  the  day  before  the 
bridge  had  been  burned,  when  suddenly  a  volley  came  from  a 
confederate  regiment,  concealed  in  the  bushes,  four  hundred 
yards  distant,  on  the  opposite  side.  This  was  the  Twenty-first 
Alabama,  Lieut.-Col.  James  M.  Williams,  having  two  hundred 
and  twenty-five  men.  Gen.  Smith  narrowly  escaped,  and  some 
shots  took  effect  in  the  Eighty-first.  Col.  Rogers  returned  the 
fire  smartly,  and  was  ordered  by  General  Smith  to  remain 
there  with  his  regiment  and  hold  that  position. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Illinois,  Col.  John  H. 
Howe  commanding,  then  took  the  advance,  with  five  of  his 
companies  deployed  as  skirmishers. 

When  within  about  a  mile  of  Spanish  fort,  Gen.  Smith 
caused  both  divisions  to  deploy  in  line  of  battle,  and  it  was  his 
purpose,  of  course,  to  have  his  movements  concealed  from  the 
enemy. 

Carr's  division,  on  the  right,  had  formed  in  two  lines ;  the 
first  consisting  of  the  Third  (Geddes')  brigade,  the  One  Hun 
dred  and  Eighth  Illinois  on  the  right,  the  Eighth  Iowa  on  the 
left,  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Illinois  deployed  as 
skirmishers  in  front.  The  second  line,  consisting  of  the  First 
(Moore's)  and  the  Second  (Ward's)  brigades ;  Moore's  having 
the  Thirty -third  Wisconsin  on  the  right,  the  Seventy-second 


52  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

Illinois  in  the  centre,  the  Ninety-fifth  Illinois  on  the  left,  and 
the  Forty-fourth  Missouri  in  reserve;  and  Ward's,  haying  the 
Fourteenth  Wisconsin  on  the  right,  the  Forty-ninth  Missouri 
in  the  centre,  the  Fortieth  Missouri  on  the  left.  The  latter 
brigade  had  wheeled  into  line  on  the  double-quick,  and  had 
been  a  few  minutes  in  position,  when  the  corps  commander 
rode  along  with  a  stern  countenance.  At  sight  of  their  "chief," 
the  men  of  the  Forty-ninth  Missouri  gave  a  cheer  which  could 
be  heard  in  the  confederate  lines.  Thus  foiled  in  his  efforts  to 
conceal  the  position,  he  rebuked  the  men  in  a  few  hasty  words. 
In  half  a  minute  a  shell  from  the  confederate  works  came 
screeching  through  the  trees,  and  dropped  close  to  the  men 
who  had  cheered.  It  did  not  burst  as  it  fell,  and  the  men  gave 
back  a  little.  Seeing  this,  Smith  cried  out  to  them  :  "  Stand  up 
to  it !  You  had  no  business  cheering." 

Carr's  centre  and  the  light  batteries  approached  by  the 
Blakely  road.  Sharp  skirmishing  commenced  about  ten,  A.  M., 
when  within  a  mile  of  Spanish  fort.  The  confederate  sharp 
shooters  were  in  advance  of  their  rifle-pits,  using  the  hills  and 
trees  for  cover. 

At  this  hour,  McArthur's  division  was  in  line  on  the  left  of 
Carr ;  and  connecting  with  the  left  of  the  Sixteenth  corps, 
Granger  had  come  up  with  the  Thirteenth  corps ;  so  that  the 
investment  was  nearly  complete.  The  troops  advanced  with 
alacrity,  their  banners  all  unfurled.  Their  line  was  three  miles 
in  length,  and  presented  a  splendid  appearance  moving  through 
the  open  woods.  Sharp  skirmishing  was  constant  along  the 
whole  front.  The  confederates,  apprehending  an  assault,  also 
kept  up  a  vehement  shelling  with  their  heavy  and  light  guns. 
And  there  was  all  the  clamor  and  stir  of  battle. 

The  confederates  had  the  advantage  of  being  on  the  defensive, 
and  being  concealed,  while  the  federals  had  the  disadvantage  of 
exposure,  in  pressing  forward  against  the  fire  of  sharpshooters, 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  53 

and  over  the  obstacles  on  the  ground  ;  but,  at  the  same  time, 
they  had  the  moral  advantage  there  is  in  the  prestige  and  mo 
mentum  of  constantly  gaining  ground. 

Up  to  noon  no  federal  artillery  had  opened,  but  the  light  bat 
teries  of  each  division  were  near  by  in  the  hollows.  A  little 
after  noon,  Carr  caused  the  Fourteenth  Indiana  light  battery, 
Capt.  F.  W.  Morse,  to  open  from  a  ridge  about  eight  hundred 
yards  from  Bed  fort,  and  near  the  position  afterward  occu 
pied  by  the  naval  battery.  Capt.  Morse's  fire  was  replied  to 
with  spirit  during  the  afternoon,  and  many  shots  fell  close,  but 
no  injury  was  sustained.  Soon  afterward,  the  First  Indiana 
light  battery,  Capt.  L.  Jacoby,  opened  from  a  prominent  posi 
tion,  a  little  to  the  left  and  front  of  the  Fourteenth.  Both  bat 
teries  were  supported  by  Moore's  brigade. 

It  was  now  toward  the  middle  of  the  afternoon.  The  rain 
was  coming  down  in  a  steady  pour,  and  the  fierceness  of  the 
artillery  fire  had  abated. 

Carr,  expecting  to  be  ordered  to  assault,  and  feeling  confident 
the  works  could  be  carried  in  his  front,  exerted  himself  to  keep 
his  lines  compact. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Illinois  had  pressed  on 
fearlessly,  gaining  distance  of  half  a  mile  in  advance  of  its  bri 
gade,  when  the  confederate  skirmishers  were  met  and,  after  a 
warm  contest,  driven  precipitously  into  their  works.  Five  of 
that  regiment  fell,  including  its  adjutant,  Lieut.  "W.  E.  Smith, 
and  the  color-sergeant.  On  the  extreme  right  was  the  One 
Hundred  and  Eighth  Illinois,  Col.  Charles  Turner,  which  sus 
tained  a  loss  of  six.  Its  skirmishers  were  commanded  by  Capt. 
W.  M.  Bullock,  a  daring  and  efficient  officer,  who  fell,  with  his 
thigh  badly  shattered  by  a  musket-ball ;  but  he  refused  to  allow 
any  of  the  men  to  expose  themselves  in  helping  him  away,  and 
dragged  himself  to  the  rear.  The  Eighth  Iowa,  distinguished 
for  discipline  and  gallantry,  Lieut.-Col.  Bell  commanding,  wr.s 


54  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

next  on  the  left,  and  had  thirteen  men  wounded  by  musketry, 
and  of  this  number  six  were  non-commissioned  officers. 

Next  on  the  left,  in  Moore's  brigade,  was  the  Thirty-third 
Wisconsin,  which  sustained  a  loss  of  six  wounded,  including 
Maj.  George  R.  Frank.  The  loss  in  the  Seventy-second  Illi 
nois  was  two,  and  in  the  Ninety-fifth  Illinois  four.  In  Ward's 
brigade  there  was  a  loss  of  one  man  in  each  regiment.  So  that 
the  whole  casualties  in  Carr's  division  were  thirty-nine.  The 
confederates  in  his  front  had  been  driven  into  their  main  works, 
and  his  line  was  established  six  hundred  yards  on  an  average 
therefrom.  The  ensuing  night  the  division  busily  intrenched. 

The  advance  along  the  left  had  conformed  to  the  right  and 
with  nearly  similar  results. 

Me  Arthur*  s  Division,  Sixteenth  Corps. — Me  Arthur's  division 
came  squarely  up  opposite  the  Red  fort,  and  began  to  encounter 
a  stubborn  resistance  from  the  confederates  at  ten  in  the  morn 
ing,  nearly  a  mile  from  that  work.  The  ground  was  well  con 
tested  ;  but  before  noon  the  confederates  had  been  pressed  back 
behind  their  main  works ;  the  main  line  of  the  division  had  got 
•within  about  twelve  hundred  yards  of  those  works  ;  a  halt  was 
ordered  and  the  men  made  to  lie  down.  Meantime,  the  skirmish 
ers  of  the  division  had  pushed  their  way  some  hundreds  of  yards 
farther.  In  the  First  (McMillen's)  brigade  on  the  right  the  casu 
alties  were  one  in  the  Thirty-third  Illinois,  three  in  the  Tenth 
Minnesota,  two  in  the  Twenty-sixth  Indiana,  and  one  in  the  Sev 
enty-second  Ohio.  The  Second  (Hubbard's)  brigade  was  in  the 
centre,  and  suffered  the  most.  The  Eighth  Wisconsin  (Lieut.- 
Col.  W.  B.  Britton),  on  the  right  had  three  killed  and  twenty- 
seven  wounded.  In  the  Eleventh  Missouri  (Col.  E.  Bowyer),  the 
casualties  were  twelve  ;  Ninth  Minnesota  (Col.  J.  H.  Marsh), 
two;  Fifth  Minnesota  (Lieut. -Col.  W.  B.  Gere),  six;  Forty- 
seventh  Illinois  (Lieut.-Col.  Bonham).  two,  including  Capt. 
Ryan.  The  Third  (Marshall's)  brigade  was  on  the  left,  the 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  55 

Thirty-third  Missouri  (Col.  W.  H.  Heath)  being  on  the  right. 
Next  was  the  Thirty-fifth  Iowa  (Lieut.-Col.  W.  B.  Keeler),  which 
lost  two ;  then  the  Twelfth  Iowa  (Maj.  Samuel  G.  Knee),  which 
lost  five  wounded,  and  on  the  extreme  left  was  the  Seventh  Min 
nesota  (Lieut.-Col.  Geo.  Bradley).  In  this  regiment  Lieut.  Fol- 
som  was  slightly  wounded  by  a  piece  of  shell  from  one  of  the 
guns  of  the  division,  and  Private  McFadden  was  killed  while 
lying  on  the  ground  skirmishing.  The  right  of  the  Thirteenth 
corps  over-lapped  three  regiments  of  Marshall's  brigade,  and  at 
dusk  they  were  ployed  in  column  of  regiments  in  the  rear,  leav 
ing  him  only  the  front  of  one  regiment.  His  skirmishers  had 
eagerly  pushed  their  way  into  the  fallen  trees  and  brush  in  the 
advance,  and  Corporal  Fry  of  the  Twelfth  Iowa  had  got  so  far 
that  he  was  taken  for  a  confederate  and  received  a  severe  wound 
in  the  foot,  from  some  one  in  the  rear. 

The  Second  Iowa  battery  (Capt.  J.  K.  Reed),  with  four  twelve- 
pounder  Napoleons  opened  fire  on  Red  fort,  one  thousand  yards 
distant ;  and  the  Third  Indiana  battery  of  Rodman  guns  (Capt. 
T.  J.  Ginn),  from  a  prominent  point  on  the  left. 

In  the  Thirteenth  corps,  Yeatch's  division  having  bivouacked 
in  the  front,  had  been  working  most  of  the  night  intrench 
ing,  had  been  in  line  of  battle  at  three  in  the  morning,  and 
the  men  were  not  feeling  very  fresh  when  they  moved  out 
at  seven.  But  they  were  ready  for  a  fight,  and  the  belief 
prevailed  that  they  were  going  to  take  Spanish  fort  by  assault. 
Veatch  deployed  when  he  had  proceeded  a  mile  with  Slack's 
brigade  on  the  right,  the  Third  brigade,  Lieut. -Col.  Kinsey 
commanding,  on  the  left,  and  Dennis'  in  reserve. 

Benton's  division,  moving  at  nine,  came  up  on  the  right 
in  three  columns  of  regiments  deployed,  connecting  with  the 
Sixteenth  corps. 

Bertram's  brigade  of  Second  division  was  sent  round  to 
the  right  of  the  Thirteenth  corps,  but  was  soon  afterward 


56  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

ordered  back,  and  taking  the  road  round  by  Wadsworth's 
returned  to  its  former  position,  and  then  closed  up  on  the 
left. 

In  the  Third  brigade  (Benton's  division),  commanded  by  Col. 
Conrad  Krez  of  the  Twenty-seventh  "Wisconsin,  the  Seventy- 
seventh  Ohio  had  been  detailed  to  guard  the  train  and  had 
moved  to  the  rear,  so  that  the  brigade  front  consisted  of  the 
Twenty-seventh  Wisconsin  and  the  Thirty-third  Iowa,  with 
the  Twenty-eighth  Wisconsin  in  reserve.  These  regiments 
were  at  first  employed  to  support  the  Twenty-sixth  New  York 
battery,  and  afterward  formed  on  the  right  of  the  corps ;  but 
met  with  no  loss  during  the  day. 

Day's  brigade  of  Benton's  division,  being  in  the  centre, 
came  up  opposite  old  Spanish  fort,  the  guns  cf  which  had 
good  range  through  a  large  ravine.  The  Ninety-first  Illinois 
was  in  the  advance  of  that  brigade  with  skirmishers  deployed, 
and  subjected  the  confederates  to  some  loss  in  forcing  them 
back  over  the  fallen  trees  to  their  breastworks.  Wlien  the 
line  halted,  about  nine  hundred  yards  from  those  works,  a 
portion  of  the  skirmish  line  was  relieved  by  Capt.  Button's 
company  of  the  Seventh  Yermont  who  had  four  men  slightly 
wounded ;  and  there  was  one  other  wounded  in  the  same 
regiment.  During  the  afternoon,  Grier's  brigade  furnished  a 
detail  to  construct  temporary  works  for  the  Twenty-first  New 
York  battery,  which  had  taken  position  on  a  prominent  spur 
near  the  right  of  that  brigade.  At  dark,  the  Ninety-first  Illinois 
and  Twenty-ninth  Iowa  began  intrenching,  a  little  in  advance 
of  the  line  occupied  during  the  day,  and  the  Fiftieth  Indiana 
and  Seventh  Vermont  took  position  two  hundred  yards  in 
the  rear. 

Col.  D.  P.  Grier's  brigade  of  the  same  division,  after  deploy 
ing,  threw  out  the  Ninety-sixth  Ohio,  Lieut.-Col.  Brown,  as 
skirmishers,  and  moving  on,  opposite  Fort  McDermett,  passed 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  til 

through  the  right  of  Veatch's  division  where  the  men  were 
intrenching  and  soon  saw  the  confederate  skirmishers  approach 
ing  over  the  brow  of  a  hill  in  advance ;  but  meeting  a  well- 
directed  fire  from  the  Ninety-sixth  Ohio  they  hastily  retreated 
to  their  works  responding  with  only  a  few  shots.  The  Ninety- 
sixth  then  pushed  forward  about  a  hundred  yards  farther.  This 
opened  the  way  for  the  Seventh  Massachusetts  light  battery, 
Capt.  Storer,  to  come  up  on  a  rise  of  ground  seven  hundred 
and  fifty  yards  from  McDermett,  and  in  rear  of  which  Grier's 
brigade  constructed  a  cover.  The  Seventh  Massachusetts  bat 
tery  was  engaged  for  three  hours. 

All  along  the  line  the  regimental  colors  were  planted  in  the 
ground,  and  afforded  a  mark  for  the  confederate  guns. 

In  the  Twenty-ninth  Wisconsin,  Slack's  brigade  of  Yeatch's 
division,  the  private  Joel  Norton,  acting  as  color  bearer,  was 
killed  by  a  piece  of  shell,  and  a  skirmisher  of  that  regiment 
was  wounded.  Yeatch's  whole  loss  during  the  day  was  two 
killed  and  sixteen  wounded. 

On  the  extreme  left,  and  next  to  the  bay,  was  Bertram's 
brigade,  squarely  in  front  of  Fort  McDermett,  and  the  approach 
was  difficult,  on  account  of  the  obstructions  of  slashings.  The 
Nineteenth  Iowa,  Lieut.-Col.  John  Bruce  commanding,  was  in 
the  advance.  With  skirmishers  deployed,  that  regiment  crossed 
an  open  field  and  coming  into  clear  range  of  the  guns  of  Mc 
Dermett,  pushed  forward  still  farther  into  the  fallen  trees,  but 
was  greeted  with  a  severe  fire  of  artillery.  The  Nineteenth 
Iowa  then  hastily  threw  up  some  logs  and  earth  for  protection. 
Foust's  battery  (F,  First  Missouri)  of  steel  guns,  came  up 
meantime,  and  soon,  with  its  skilful  fire,  silenced  the  guns  in 
McDermett.  Several  of  the  Nineteenth  had  been  severely 
wounded  and  there  was  now  some  pause  in  firing  on  this 
part  of  the  line.  Meantime,  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade, 
Twentieth  Wisconsin,  Twenty-third  Iowa,  and  Ninety-fourth  Uli- 


58  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

nois,  came  up,  and  Granger  also  came  on  tlie  ground.  Another 
advance  was  soon  ordered.  Tin  Twentieth  Wisconsin,  Lieut. - 
Col.  Starr,  had  formed  011  the  right  of  the  Nineteenth  Iowa, 
and  both  regiments  pushed  forward  over  the  slashed  trees,  but 
could  not  move  fast.  The  confederates  from  the  fort,  and  their 
advanced  rifle-pits,  were  on  the  watch,  and  when  they  had  gained 
about  two  hundred  yards  opened  fiercely  on  them  with  mus 
ketry  and  artillery.  To  this  fire  they  replied  with  spirit,  and 
Foust's  unerring  guns  in  the  rear  were  doing  execution  at  every 
shot.  In  close  musketry  range  of  McDermett,  both  regiments 
began  to  construct  rifle-pits,  and  pickets  were  posted  on  the 
farther  side  of  a  ravine  which  extended  on  the  right  nearly  up 
to  the  road ;  their  post  being  close  to  rifle-pits  from  which  the 
confederates  had  been  driven.  In  the  Nineteenth  Iowa,  Cor 
porals  Geo.  Major  and  Win.  Holliday,  and  Private  Montgomery, 
were  killed,  and  Corporal  Fish  of  the  color  guard,  and  Corporals 
Loyle  and  Smith,  and  ten  privates,  were  wounded.  Capt.  Stone 
of  the  Twentieth  Wisconsin,  a  gallant  officer  and  gentleman,  was 
mortally  wounded. 

By  dusk,  the  general  line  of  the  Thirteenth  corps  was  estab- 

0 

lished  from  eight  hundred  to  one  thousand  yards  from  the 
main  works  of  the  confederates,  and  after  dark  large  details 
were  set  at  work  intrenching  ;  and  along  the  whole  line  the 
spade,  the  pick,  and  the  axe,  were  busily  employed. 

During  the  day,  Granger  with  a  staff-officer  rode  along  the 
line  of  skirmishers,  attracting  a  fire  which  struck  down  the 
orderly  bearing  the  corps  colors. 

The  number  of  killed  and  wounded  in  the  Sixteenth  corps 
were  ninety-one  ;  in  the  Thirteenth  something  less.  According 
to  the  report  telegraphed  to  Mobile,  the  confederates  sustained 
a  loss  of  only  nine  killed  and  thirty  wounded.  The  garrison 
had  been  expecting  an  assault,  and  were  saving  the  most  of 
their  fire  for  such  an  emergency.  At  four  in  the  afternoon,  Gen. 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  59 

Gibson  reported :  "  Enemy  seem  to  be  attacking  here  in  earnest, 
and  has  opened  on  every  part  of  the  line,  with  musketry  and 
light  artillery."1  Canby,  however,  did  not  intend  to  assault 
blindly  ;  nor  would  there  have  been  much  gained  in  point  of 
time,  for  the  army  would  have  had  to  wait  a  few  days  for  sup 
plies  before  moving  farther.  He  accompanied  the  troops  in 
the  movement  and  established  his  headquarters  on  the  main 
road,  near  Wilson's,  two  miles  from  Spanish  fort. 

1  Gibson  to  Lidell :  "  March  27,  5:30  P.  M. — We  require  more  tools.  Will  send 
off  horses  and  mules  by  first  boat  to-night  Enemy  has  established  himself  in 
heavy  force  from  the  extreme  left  to  the  right,  has  heavy  batteries  along  his 
whole  line.  The  works  are  not  complete  on  the  left" 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

SIEGE  OF  SPANISH  FORT— SECOND  DAY. 

March  28. — The  garrison  of  Spanish  fort  comprised  about 
four  thousand.  Col.  Patton  had  command  of  the  artillery  which 
was  also  armed  with  rifle  muskets,  and  did  duty  in  the  pits ; 
'Gibson's  brigade  was  in  the  centre;  and  the  Alabama  reserves — 
principally  youths,  under  General  Thomas,  were  on  the  left. 
And  there  were  batteries  under  skilful  artillerists  distributed 
;at  the  forts  on  the  entire  line. 

The  garrison  now  saw  they  were  to  be  regularly  besieged  by 
a  large  force,  but  were  determined  to  hold  out  as  long  as  they 
could  without  unreasonable  sacrifice,  and  were  inspired  with 
the  pride  and  satisfaction  of  holding  at  bay  a  powerful  and 
finely-equipped  army. 

In  the  morning  the  public  animals  were  shipped  off,  and 
renewed  efforts  made  for  additional  tools.  On  the  extreme 
left  the  defences  wrere  not  finished,  and  these  had  been 
worked  upon  through  the  night,  and  were  being  continued. 
On  that  part  of  the  line,  on  the  preceding  day,  a  party 
of  blacks  had  been  at  work  behind  the  skirmishers  felling 
trees  for  an  abatis  in  front  of  the  main  works ;  but  ran 
in  before  the  skirmishers,  and  having  got  too  "  demoralized" 
to  be  useful  in  the  garrison,  were  sent  to  Fort  Huger. 

The  work  went  on  actively  in  completing  platforms  for  the 
guns,  making  revetments  for  the  breastworks  and  embrasures, 
.and  bomb-proof  quarters  for  officers  and  men.  These  latter 
were  along  close  to  the  main  works.  But  more  of  this  neces- 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  61 

sary  work  could  have  been  done  if  there  had  been  a  larger 
supply  of  tools.1 

The  besiegers,  as  well  as  the  garrison,  were  experienced  in 
such  operations,  and  their  practice  on  the  late  march  had 
given  them  fresh  facility  in  constructing  earthworks.  The  red 
lines  of  earth — which  will  there  remain  for  years  to  come — 
began  to  appear  astonishingly  quick  ;  and  .they  were,  indeed, 
needed  as  a  barrier  against  the  subtle  Minie-balls  of  the 
garrison  sharpshooters,  who,  to  use  a  phrase  that  was  soon 
current  along  the  line,  "  shot  to  kill." 

In  the  rear,  the  pioneer  companies  of  each  division,  with 
details,  were  making  gabions  and  fascines,  levying  heavily  on 
the  forest  for  its  withes  and  poles.  The  abundance  of  pine-trees, 
many  of  which  had  been  felled  to  impede  them,  largely  assisted 
the  men  in  making  their  bomb-proof  quarters,  and  the  revet 
ments  for  batteries. 

There  had  been  occasional  shots  during  the  night ;  but  when 
day  broke,  the  crack  of  the  musket  grew  vehement,  and  the  ar 
tillery  opened  with  spirit  on  both  sides.  The  garrison,  the  day 

1  Gibson  to  Lidell:  "  March  28. — The  enemy  attempted  to  advance  his  lines 
at  sunset,  but  was  wholly  unsuccessful.  He  is  persistent  in  his  attempt  to  gain 
all  the  ground  he  can,  and  fails  at  every  point.  I  am  compelled  to  extend  my 
Unes  on  the  left.  I  lost  five  (5)  men  killed  and  thirty-four  (34)  wounded  to-day. 
I  attril?  Jte  the  loss  to  the  want  of  tools  to  throw  up  skirmish-pits  and  traverses. 
I  hav;  an  immense  deal  of  digging  to  do,  as  the  enemy  are  erecting  heavy 
batteries  on  the  right  and  left,  which  enfilade  the  lines.  Three  (3)  of  his  gun 
boats  ran  on  the  bar,  fired  at  the  fort  about  sunset ;  all  but  one  retired  after  a 
few  rounds.  We  all  think  that  the  one  that  remained  was  sunk.  I  cannot  say 
certainly,  but  I  think  so." 

Lidell  to  Col  Garner  (Chief  of  Staff] :  "  Blakely,  March  28 Gen. 

Gibson  telegraphs  that  his  force  cannot  be  reduced,  and  should  only  be  relieved. 
Enemy  pressing  him  in  heavy  force  at  all  points.  His  casualties  are  less  than 
yesterday.  I  despatched  him,  boat  would  be  sent  for  reserves  to-night.  He 
reports  present  strength  at  three  thousand  four  hundred.  I  send  two  Yankee 
prisoners,  who  belong  to  Gilbert's  division,  at  Sibley's  mill.  There  are  not 
enough  boats  here  for  the  work  they  have  to  do,  and  they  never  have  enough 
wood.  Please  send  me  more  at  once." 


62  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

and  night  preceding,  had  made  an  opening  in  the  timber  to  the 
shore  of  Minette  bay,  to  afford  an  enfilading  range  on  the  right 
flank  of  the  Sixteenth  corps,  from  the  heavy  guns  of  Fort  Huger, 
situated  on  the  marsh  twenty-five  hundred  yards  distant  on  the 
left  and  rear  of  the  garrison.  The  fire  from  these  guns  ap 
peared  effective  at  first,  but  one  of  the  shot  having  struck 
inside  the  garrison,  it  was  ordered  to  cease. 

Sixteenth  Corps. — The  Fourteenth  Indiana  (Morse's)  light  bat 
tery — Carr's  division — had,  on  the  evening  of  the  27th,  advanced 
to  a  prominent  and  exposed  position,  where  a  mortar  battery  of 
the  First  Indiana  heavy  artillery  afterward  came  in,  five  hun 
dred  and  fifty  yards  from  Ked  fort.  The  Fourteenth,  aided  by 
details  of  infantry,  had  worked  all  night  throwing  up  works  ;  but 
the  earth  on  that  ridge  was  very  hard,  and  by  morning  only  a 
few  logs  were  rolled  together  with  scarcely  enough  earth  to 
cover  them.  In  pursuance  of  orders,  however,  Capt.  Morse 
opened  fire  at  daylight,  and  was  speedily  answered  by  Phillips' 
Tennessee  and  Lumsden's  Alabama  light  batteries,  in  his  front, 
which  concentrated  their  fire  on  him.  Morse  continued  firing 
till  ten  o'clock,  when  he  ceased,  so  as  to  give  the  pioneers  oppor 
tunity  to  strengthen  the  work,  and  while  this  was  in  progress 
the  work  was  penetrated  by  a  shell,  which  exploded,  killing  one 
man  and  fatally  wounding  another.  The  other  light  guns  on 
the  left,  in  the  front  of  both  corps,  were  also  engaged,  but  much 
exposed ;  yet  batteries  for  them  were  in  progress. 

In  the  morning,  an  examination  of  the  ground  off  from  Carr's 
right,  and  along  the  eastern  shore  of  Minette  bay,  showed  that 
a  battery  could  be  placed  on  the  bluff  that  would  have  a  plung 
ing  fire  on  Huger.  A  Whit  worth  and  a  steel  rifle  were  put  in 
position  there,  which  drew  the  fire  that  had  been  renewed  of 
Huger  from  the  right  flank  of  the  Sixteenth  corps,  and  also 
moved  farther  up  the  river  a  confederate  gunboat,  which  had 
also  been  hurling  at  A.  J.  Smith's  command  large  and  demoral 
izing  projectiles. 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  63 

The  nature  of  the  ground  was  such  that  on  the  extreme  right 
of  Smith's  corps  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighth  Illinois — Geddes' 
brigade  of  Carr's  division — was  able  to  commence  a  parallel  on 
a  ridge  two  hundred  yards  distant  from  the  confederate  works  ; 
and  which,  when  finished,  bent  round  to  within  one  hundred  and 
twenty  yards  of  the  confederate  works.  Toward  the  left  the 
distance  widened,  the  parallel  commenced  by  the  Eighth  Iowa 
and  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Illinois  being  a  little  over- 
three  hundred  yards  distant.  Next  in  Moore's  brigade  the  first 
line  was  three  hundred  and  fifty  yards  distant,  and  in  Ward's 
brigade  five  hundred.  By  daylight  Moore's  brigade  had  its  first 
parallel  opened,  and  some  cover  thrown  up  lor  the  skirmish  line 
one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  in  advance.  The  loss  during  the 
day  in'  Geddes'  brigade  was  two  wounded  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Eighth  Illinois  ;  two — one  dangerously — in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-fourth  Illinois  ;  in  the  Eighth  Iowa,  David  Sterrett, 
Company  K,  was  killed,  and  Mandres,  Company  I,  and  Herz- 
berger,  Company  G,  wounded.  In  Moore's  brigade,  four  were 
wounded  in  the  Thirty -third  Wisconsin,  one  in  the  Seventy-sec 
ond  Illinois,  and  four — one  dangerously — in  the  Ninety-fifth 
Illinois.  In  Ward's  brigade,  four — one  dangerously — were 
wounded  in  the  Fourteenth  Wisconsin,  five — two  dangerously — 
in  the  Fortieth  Missouri.  Also,  among  the  wounded  was  Lieut. 
Joseph  H.  Mitchell,  Company  A,  Forty-ninth  Missouri. 

The  preceding  night,  in  the  front  of  the  Fortieth  Missouri  two 
colored  men  deserted  from  the  garrison,  and  coming  toward  the 
picket  of  the  Fortieth,  were  ordered  to  halt.  One  got  frightened 
and  ran,  but  the  sentinel  quickly  fired,  and  he  fell.  The  other 
came  safely  in,  and  the  wounded  one  was  sent  to  the  hospital. 

In  McArthur's  division  the  casualties  were  :  in  McMillen's  bri 
gade,  two  wounded  in  the  Thirty-third  Illinois ;  in  Hubbard's 
brigade,  one  wounded  in  the  Ninth  Minnesota  ;  in  Marshall's 
brigade,  two  wounded  in  the  Thirty-third  Missouri,  one  in  the 


64  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

Twelfth  Iowa,  and  Corporal  Dreauler  of  the  Seventh  Minnesota. 
Company  D,  Capt.  Norman  Buck,  of  the  latter  regiment  was  on 
the  skirmish  line,  and  occupied  ground  three  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  from  the  confederate  works. 

The  Thirteenth  Corps. — In  Krez's  brigade,  Benton's  division, 
four  companies  from  different  regiments,  under  Captain  James 
Gunn,  Twenty-seventh  Wisconsin,  were  sent  out  in  daylight  to 
relieve  skirmishers  of  the  Second  (Day's)  brigade  who  were  in 
Krez's  front.  These  companies  had  to  cross  a  ravine  containing 
a  labyrinth  of  slashings,  and  which  was  commanded  by  the  guns 
of  McDermett  and  the  sharpshooters  posted  in  its  front.  But 
heedless  of  danger  they  made  their  way  to  the  front  as  fast  as 
possible,  which  could  not  be  rapid  even  for  sure-footed  and 
athletic  men ;  drove  some  of  the  confederate  skirmishers  out  of 
their  pits,  and  pushed  on  to  within  two  hundred  yards  or 
thereabouts,  of  the  confederate  battery  No.  3 ;  but  losing 
heavily.  The  detail  from  the  Thirty-third  Iowa  had  eight 
wounded,  one  mortally,  and  four  dangerously;  and  among  the 
wounded  from  that  regiment  were  Capts.  William  S.  Parmlee 
and  George  E.  Ledyard.  The  Twenty-eighth  Wisconsin  lost 
one  killed,  Private  Samuel  D.  Hogg,  Company  B,  and  six 
wounded,  and  the  Twenty-seven tli  Wisconsin  four  wounded. 
So  dangerous  was  it  to  retire  or  advance  there  in  the  daytime 
that  some  who  were  to  be  relieved  preferred  to  remain  in  their 
pits  iii  the  front. 

In  Day's  (Second)  brigade,  Company  D,  Capt.  Geo.  E.  Croft, 
Seventh  Vermont,  had  been  on  the  skirmish  line  during  the 
night  and  having  pushed  forward  pretty  close  to  the  confederate 
works,  was  able  to  bring  back  valuable  information  concerning 
them.  The  skirmish  line  in  front  of  Day's  brigade  was  on  the 
rise  of  ground  before  Battery  No.  3,  before  mentioned,  and  so 
exposed  to  a  raking  fire  of  light  guns  that  the  men  were  in 
constant  peril ;  for  they  were  not  yet  well  covered  by  works, 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  65 

and  had  to  seek  shelter  behind  logs  to  some  extent,  rendering 
their  line  irregular. 

At  three  in  the  morning,  the  Twenty-ninth  Iowa — a  regiment 
of  splendid  material  and  discipline  to  match — was  relieved  in 
the  front,  where  it  had  been  digging  all  night,  by  the  Fiftieth 
Indiana — a  regiment  of  the  same  distinguished  merit,  withdrew 
a  few  hundred  yards  to  the  rear,  but  not  out  of  range,  "  and 
got  something  to  eat,  the  first  for  nearly  thirty-six  hours,"  and 
then  soon  returned  and  resumed  the  labors  of  the  trenches. 

Grier's  (First)  brigade  was  at  work  in  the  position  taken  the 
preceding  evening. 

In  Yeatch's  division  next  on  the  left,  Dennis'  (Second)  brigade 
was  in  the  front,  the  skirmishers  being  engaged  with  but  little 
intermission,  and  the  fatigue  parties  exposed  to  considerable 
shelling. 

Attack  on  Captain  Noble's  Working  Party. — At  dusk,  Capt. 
J.  L.  Noble,  of  the  Twenty-first  Iowa,  Slack's  brigade,  with  one 
hundred  men  of  the  Twenty-first  armed,  and  a  detail  of  three 
hundred  men  from  other  regiments  without  arms,  a  strange 
oversight,  went  to  the  front  to  work  on  a  battery.  The  detail 
crawled  along  cautiously  to  the  place  designated,  and  com 
menced  work.  Capt.  Noble  put  out  pickets  in  his  front  with 
instructions  to  report  to  him  every  five  minutes.  Soon  the 
garrison  sharpshooters  heard  the  noise  of  the  tools  and  com 
menced  an  unpleasant  fire.  The  party  kept  at  their  work,  and 
it  seems  that  some  of  the  detail  had  stuck  their  guns  with 
the  bayonets  on  into  the  ground.  About  midnight,  in  the 
midst  of  a  heavy  rainstorm,  they  were  surprised  and  attacked, 
the  confederates  having  approached  slyly  to  within  a  very  few 
yards  of  the  work  before  being  discovered.  It  was  even  doubt 
ful  for  a  few  moments  which  side  would  get  possession  of  the 
guns  that  were  stuck  in  the  ground.  For  a  few  minutes  the 
combat  was  hand  to  hand.  Capt.  Noble  called  upon  his  men 

5 


66  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

to  stand  by  him,  which  they  did,  with  spirit,  and  kept  their 
assailants  out  of  the  work.  Many  of  the  unarmed  men  ran 
back  to  camp,  and  some  reported  that  Capt.  Noble  and  his  little 
band  were  captured.  But  Capt.  Noble  said  they  were  mistaken, 
though  he  admitted  that  "  at  different  times  the  rebs.  were 
apparently  standing  guard  over  him."  In  about  an  hour  Gen. 
Slack  came  out  with  his  brigade  to  his  relief,  and  the  tide  of 
the  combat  speedily  turned.  Capt.  Noble  had  one  man  killed 
and  five  wounded,  and  a  ball  came  so  near  himself  as  to  burn 
his  hair.  He  afterward  learned  from  a  confederate  sergeant 
that  the  regiment  that  made  the  attack  lost  seven  killed  and 
fourteen  wounded. 

The  attack  was  general  on  the  skirmishers  of  Granger's  left 
at  the  same  time,  but  no  ground  was  anywhere  lost. 

In  Bertram's  brigade,  the  Nineteenth  Iowa  was  relieved  in 
the  morning  by  the  Ninety-fourth  Illinois,  Col.  John  McNulta, 
which  continued  the  work  in  the  rifle-pits,  and  also  sent  three 
companies,  under  Capt.  McFarland,  to  the  front  to  support  the 
Twenty-third  Iowa. 

Operations  of  the  Navy. — The  fleet,  under  Acting  Bear-Ad 
miral  H.  K.  Thatcher,  having  several  of  the  vessels  that  had 
gained  renown  under  Earragut  at  Fort  Morgan,  had  kept  pace 
with  the  army  up  to  the  26th.  But  Canby  was  disappointed 
in  the  expectation,  that  it  might  move  up  close  to  Spanish  fort 
and  complete  the  investment  on  the  water  side.  Could  this 
have  been  done  the  hours  of  Spanish  fort  would  have  been 
brief.  But  the  shallow  water  on  Blakely  bar,  the  elaborate 
obstructions,  and  the  torpedoes,  prevented. 

The  confederates  first  caught  sight  of  a  portion  of  the  fleet 
about  five  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  26th,  when  it  was 
off  the  mouth  of  D'Olieve's  creek 

On  the  28th,  the  fleet  was  lying  off  Howard's  wharf.  The 
pendant  of  the  senior  officer  was  flying  from  the  Stockdale. 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  67 

At  midday  the  Octorara,  Lieut.-Com.  "VY.  "W.  Low,  and  the 
river  ironclad  monit  rs,  Milwaukie,  Lieut.-Com.  J.  H.  Gillis, 
the  Kickapoo,  Lieut.-Com.  Jones,  the  Winnebago,  Lieut.-Com. 
Kirkland,  and  the  Chickasaw,  got  under  weigh  from  the  anchor 
age  of  the  squadron  and  steamed  for  the  bar  of  Blakely  river. 
The  ironclads  passed  successfully  over  the  bar.  But  the  Oc 
torara  took  the  ground  on  the  ridge  of  the  bar  in  eight  feet  of 
water.  The  tide  had  commenced  falling  ;  and  at  three  o'clock, 
a  tube  having  burst  in  her  starboard  boiler,  further  efforts  to 
force  her  over  ceased  for  the  day.  And,  though  she  ulti 
mately  gained  distinction,  it  seemed  necessary  that  she  should 
yield  to  that  fate  which  rules  in  war,  and  often  interposes  a 
trivial  accident  to  prevent  unmixed  success.  The  Winnebago 
and  Milwaukie  had  Ead's  turrets,  admitting  of  an  elevation 
to  the  guns  of  twenty  degrees,  and  were  permitted  to  advance. 
A  trial  shell  was  fired  from  the  Winnebago  when  she  was  at 
the  first  rest,  which  showed  she  was  much  beyond  the  range 
of  her  guns  from  Spanish  fort. 

Sinking  of  the  MHwaulde. — Both  steamers  continued  up  the 
Blakely  river,  to  within  about  a  mile  and  a  half  of  Fort  McDer- 
mett,  and,  with  their  Xl-inch  guns,  threw  some  shells  at  a 
transport,  supposed  to  be  carrying  supplies  to  the  garrison,  and 
compelled  her  to  move  up  the  river.  Some  shots  were  directed 
at  Spanish  fort,  which  were  thought  by  the  besiegers  to  have 
done  good  execution  ;  and  when  the  first  shell  came  screeching 
up  the  bay,  there  was  immense  cheering  all  along  their  line. 
They  then  returned  to  anchor.  The  Milwaukie,  dropping  with 
the  current,  her  bow  headed  up  stream,  had  got  within  two 
hundred  yards  of  the  Kickapoo,  then  at  anchor,  and  was  where 
boats  had  previously  swept  for  torpedoes,  and  where  it  was  sup 
posed  there  could  be  no  danger  from  them.  Just  then  a  shock 
was  felt  on  board,  and  it  was  known  at^once  that  a  torpedo  had 
exploded  on  her  port  side,  abaft  the  after  turret,  and  about  forty 


68  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

feet  from  the  stern.  The  first  object  of  the  commander,  after 
realizing  the  impossibility  of  saving  the  vessel,  was  to  save  the 
crew,  which  was  happily  clone.  There  was  some  confusion  at 
first,  for  the  hatches  were  closed,  and  but  three  were  provided 
with  levers  to  open  them  from  below  ;  but  a  single  command  re 
stored  order,  and  all  came  on  deck  in  a  quiet,  orderly  manner. 
The  stern  sank  in  about  three  minutes,  but  the  forward  com 
partments  did  not  fill  for  nearly  an  hour  afterward,  giving  the 
crew  an  opportunity  of  saving  most  of  their  effects.  Lieut.  - 
Com.  Gillis  saw  every  man  off  the  vessel,  and  sent  them  to  the 
Kickapoo.  He  then  reported  to  the  flagship,  and  obtained  per 
mission  to  proceed  to  Pensacola,  to  get  divers  and  a  steam - 
pump  to  aid  in  fetching  up  his  guns.1  Col.  McNulta's  men,  of 
the  Ninety-fourth  Illinois,  up  in  front  of  McDermett,  looked  on 
the  Milwaukie  from  the  rifle-pits,  after  the  accident,  and  said 
that  her  flag  was  still  waving,  and  that  her  men,  standing  in 
water,  were  firing  effective  shots  from  her  turret  guns.  And  the 
officers  of  the  garrison  strained  their  eyes  to  see  whether  she 
had  sunk  or  not.2 


1  Lieut.  Gillis'  Report,  March  30, 1865. 

2  "  Skirmishing  and  artillery  fire  open  lively  on  both  sides  as  soon  as  light 
enough  for  good  practice.     Battery  Huger  opens  on  the  enemy's  right  with 
good  effect,  but  is  stopped  on  account  of  an  accidental  shot  having  fallen  in 
our  lines. 

"  Fire  on  both  sides  abates  toward  midday.  Opens  again,  very  lively,  about 
three,  P.  M.  The  enemy's  line  is  well  established  along  our  entire  front,  and, 
as  usual,  the  work  seems  to  progress  very  rapidly  at  all  points  ;  ours,  but 
moderately.  Two  monitors  open  fire  on  Spanish  fort  about  five,  P.  M.,  but  their 
shots  fall  a  little  short.  They  are  answered  by  Spanish  fort,  and  one  suddenly 
ceases.  Heavy  fighting  on  our  left  toward  dark.  The  enemy  attempted  to  ad 
vance  his  pickets  without  success.  Large  fleet  lying  off  Blakely  bar." — Diary 
of  a  Confederate  Officer. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

SIEGE  OF  SPANISH  FORT— THIRD  DAY. 

March  29 — Operations  of  the  Navy. — Those  who  merely  con 
sider  the  brilliant  results  of  military  or  naval  operations  know 
little  of  the  tugging  toil  which  generally  attends  their  achieve 
ment.  An  example  of  this  toil  was  seen  in  the  experience  of 
the  fleet. 

The  Octorara  (as  also  the  Metaoomet)  was  a  side-wheel 
steam-gunboat  of  the  style  familiarly  called  "  double-ender," 
having  bow  and  stern  constructed  alike,  of  draught  of  from 
eight  to  ten  feet  of  water,  and  fore-and-aft  schooner-rigged. 
She  carried  two  IX-inch  guns,  two  thirty -two-pounders,  and 
four  twenty-four-pounder  howitzers,  as  broadside,  and  one  one- 
hundred-pounder  Parrott  rifle,  and  one  IX-inch  smooth-bore  as 
pivots  ;  with  gun  crews  for  the  larger  guns  of  seventeen  men 
each.  Her  disabled  boiler  had  been  repaired,  and  she  had 
been  considerably  lightened  by  shifting  sand-bags,  shot,  and 
shell,  and  four  heavy  guns — weighing  each  nine  thousand  six 
hundred  pounds — on  board  tugs — the  gaff  of  a  tug  being  used 
as  a  derrick.  And  at  noon,  the  29th,  with  the  assistance  of  two 
tugs,  she  passed  over  the  Blakely  bar,  and  anchored  inside. 
The  same  evening  the  hundred-pounder  Parrott  was  taken  on 
board  and  mounted,  and  some  shot  and  shell  received  from  the 
tugs.  But  she  did  not  open  fire  till  the  next  day. 

Heavy  details  from  the  squadron  in  boats  had  been  industri 
ously  sweeping  the  channel  with  chains  for  torpedoos,  and 
many  had  been  brought  up. 


70  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

Sinking  of  the  Osage. — At  two,  P.  M.,  of  the  £9th,  the  ironclad 
Osage,  Lieut.-Com.  Wm.  M.  Gamble,  was  lying  at  anchor  inside 
of  Blakely  bar  in  company  with  four  other  vessels.  A  strong 
breeze  was  blowing  from  the  eastward,  and  the  Winnebago  had 
dragged  close  alongside.  To  avoid  collision  the  Osage  weighed 
anchor,  moved  off  to  a  safe  distance  on  her  starboard  bow,  was 
stopped  by  her  commander  in  two  fathoms  water,  and  hands 
ordered  ready  to  let  go  the  anchor.  Almost  immediately  a 
torpedo  exploded  under  the  bow,  and  the  Osage  commenced 
filling  and  sinking  rapidly.  But  search  below  for  the  killed  and 
wounded  was  speedily  made  by  executive  officer  Garrison  with 
some  men,  and  two  killed  and  five  wounded  were  passed  up. 
Five  were  killed  and  twelve  wounded.  The  Osage  almost  imme 
diately  filled.  Her  position  had  been  thoroughly  dragged  by 
boats ;  and  it  was  supposed  the  torpedo  which  struck  her  was 
drifting. 

Position  of  the  Confederate  Artillery. — Twenty-one  batteries 
had  been  sent  down  from  Hood's  (or  Johnston's)  army  to  help 
defend  Mobile.  Some  of  these  had  lost,  and  some  had  worn 
out  their  guns  and  material  in  resisting  Sherman.  Many  of  the 
companies  had  served  from  the  commencement  of  the  war,  and 
had  left  dead  comrades  on  more  than  a  dozen  great  battle-fields, 
and  now  they  were  in  conflict  again  with  men,  whom,  in  more 
hopeful  days,  they  had  met  at  Shiloh  and  Yicksburgh. 

Of  these  organizations  the  principal  one  was  the  Twenty- 
second  regiment  Louisiana  artillery,  commanded  by  Col.  Isaac 
Patton,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  a  graduate  of  West  Point.  He 
had  command  of  the  artillery  at  Spanish  fort  and  Forts  Huger 
and  Tracy,  and  the  latter  forts  were  garrisoned  mainly  by  com 
panies  from  his  regiment. 

Forts  Huger  and  Tracy  were  a  thousand  yards  apart,  built  on 
the  marsh,  with  piles  driven  for  foundation ;  were  from  one  to  two 
miles  above  Spanish  fort,  and  about  the  same  distance  from  the 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  71 

main  shore.  As  has  been  before  remarked,  they  were  designed 
to  command  Blakely  river ;  and  it  was  an  opinion  expressed  by 
Beauregard  that  they  should  be  made  self-sustaining,  and  that 
no  garrisons  should  be  maintained  on  the  main  shore.  Fort 
Huger  was  a  work  with  four  bastions,  but  open  at  the  north  end, 
was  garrisoned  by  companies  B  and  K  of  the  Twenty-second 
Louisiana  and  Company  C,  First  Mississippi  light  artillery, 
Capt.  Collins — total,  two  hundred  effective,  and  commanded  by 
Maj.  Washington  Marks,  of  the  Twenty-second  Louisiana.  It 
was  armed  with  eleven  guns ;  namely,  one  YHI-inch  double- 
banded  gun  in  the  northeast  bastion,  one  VITVinch  Brooks 
rifle,  and  one  X-inch  mortar  on  east  face ;  one  Yll-inch  rifle  at 
southeast  bastion ;  one  X-inch  double-banded  smooth-bore  on 
south  face ;  one  Vll-inch  rifle  on  southwest  bastion ;  one 
VItVinch  Brooks  rifle  on  west  face  ;  two  twelve-pounder  howit 
zers.  In  the  centre  was  a  bomb-proof,  twenty-five  feet  high,  on 
which  were  mounted  on  pintels  two  splendid  X-inch  colum- 
biads,  smooth-bore,  having,  of  course,  a  wide  range. 

Fort  Tracy  was  an  enclosed  bastioned  work,  garrisoned  by 
Companies  I,  H,  and  G,  of  the  Twenty-second  Louisiana, — one 
hundred  and  twenty  men,  under  the  immediate  command  of 
Capt.  A.  A.  Patsmier,  Company  I  of  that  regiment,  and  armed 
with  five  Yll-inch  rifle  guns. 

It  was  supposed  these  forts  would  be  assaulted  by  men  landed 
from  boats  and  launches,  and  the  garrisons  were  exercising  much 
vigilance  to  be  ready  to  repulse  them. 

Old  Spanish  fort,  sometimes  denominated  the  Water-battery, 
was  garrisoned  by  Companies  A,  D,  and  F,  of  the  Twenty- 
second  Louisiana,  and  well  armed  with  Yll-inch  columbiads 
and  thirty-pounder  Parrotts — five  in  all. 

Fort  McDermett  was  under  the  immediate  command  of  Capt. 
Samuel  Barnes,  Company  C,  Twenty-second  Louisiana,  and  the 
artillery  was  manned  by  his  own  and  Owen's  Arkansas  battery — 


72  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

effective  of  both  companies,  ninety-one ;  but  it  -WT.S  reinforced 
on  the  following  day  by  Massenbery's  Georgia  light  artillery, 
one  hundred  and  ten  effective.  It  had,  at  first,  fifteen  guns ;  six 
six-pounder  smooth-bore  ;  two  twenty -four-pounder  howitzers  ; 
six  cohorn  mortars ;  and  one  Vl^g-iiich  Brooks  rifle,  mounted 
on  centre-pintel,  and  having  a  range  of  three  quarters  of  the  cir 
cle  of  the  besiegers'  works. 

Its  south  bastion  was  a  lunette  of  strong  profile,  a  command 
of  twenty-five  degrees  over  ridge  and  road  approaching  it,  a 
regular  covered  way  with  four  embrasures,  a  carefully-con 
structed  abatis  and  chevaux-de-frise,  and  many  torpedoes  made 
with  twelve-pounder  shell.  With  the  exception  of  old  Spanish 
fort,  which,  from  its  position,  was  unassailable,  this  south  bas 
tion  was  decidedly  the  strongest  and  most  carefully  fortified 
fort  of  the  garrison  works. 

Captain  C.  H.  Slocum  had  command  of  the  other  batteries 
on  the  left.  His  quarters  were  at  the  redoubt  No.  3,  where  was 
also  his  company — the  fifth  of  the  Washington  artillery — ninety 
effective,  composed  of  the  best  class  of  young  men  of  New  Or 
leans.  During  the  war  Slocum 's  battery  had  marched  six 
thousand  miles.  This  redoubt  (No.  3)  was  armed  with  eight 
pieces  :  one  Ylll-inch  columbiad,  two  Napoleons,  one  Ill-inch 
rifle,  and  four  cohorn  mortars. 

At  Redoubt  No.  4  was  Phillips'  Tennessee  battery,  sixty  effec 
tive,  with  two  Napoleons,  one  twelve-pounder  howitzer,  and  two 
cohorn  mortars.  Next,  on  the  left  of  Redoubt  No.  5,  was  Lums- 
den's  Tuscaloosa  (Alabama)  battery,  with  four  six-pounders, 
and  three  cohorn  mortars. 

The  whole  number  of  guns,  including  mortars,  in  all  the 
works,  the  first  days  of  the  siege,  was  fifty-seven. 

Operations  along  the  Lines. — The  firing  on  both  sides  this  day 
seems  to  have  increased  in  severity.  It  made  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith 
move  his  headquarters  a  little  to  the  rear.  The  garrison  ex- 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  73 

fended  not  less  than  thirty-six  thousand  rounds  of  musket  am 
munition,  and  its  own  loss  was  reported  to  be  thirty  killed,  and 
one  hundred  and  nineteen  wounded*. l  It  now  commenced  the 
use  of  steel  screens  in  the  embrasures. 

On  the  left  of  the  besiegers  Bertram's  brigade  had  advanced 
some  distance  farther  than  the  division  on  the  right,  leaving  its 
right  flank  exposed.  At  seven  in  the  afternoon,  seven  companies 
of  the  Twenty-ninth  Illinois  (third  brigade  of  Veatch's  divis 
ion),  under  Maj.  E.  P.  Curtis,  went  out  to  the  front  to  open  a 
line  of  works  connecting  with  Bertram's  right.  They  had  but 
fairly  begun  digging  when  a  superior  number  of  the  garrison 
made  a  sally  on  them,  under  cover  of  the  darkness,  rushing 
boldly  and  impetuously  up  to  the  trenches  as  if  sure  of  success. 
A  similar  attack  was  made  at  the  same  time  in  Bertram's  ad 
vance,  but  the  working  parties  repulsed  the  attack,  and  resumed 
their  work.  About  the  same  time  the  Eighth  Illinois,  Dennis' 
brigade,  had  one  man  killed  and  three  wounded  while  working 
on  a  battery. 

Adventure  on  the  Skirmish  Line. — In  Day's  brigade,  Ben  ton's 
division,  Capt.  L.  K.  Myers,  Twenty-ninth  Iowa,  had  the  pre 
ceding  evening  been  detailed  as  brigade  officer  of  the  day  in 
the  trenches.  He  had  four  companies,  and  was  required  to  ad 
vance  and  dig  rifle-pits  within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  con 
federate  works — then  occupied  by  Gibson's  Louisiana  brigade, 
Col.  Campbell  commanding;  the  men  having  one  day's  rations 
and  one  hundred  rounds  of  ammunition  each.  Soon  after 
nightfall,  with  Lieut.  Stocker  and  six  or  seven  men,  he  went 

1  Capt.  Lewis  to  Col  Garner  :  "  Blakely,  Mar.  29. — Gen.  Gibson  reports  the 
following  casualties  :  thirty  killed,  one  hundred  and  nineteen  wounded." 

A  soldier  of  the  Sixty-second  Alabama  (Col.  Huger's  regiment),  writing  from 
Spanish  fort,  March  29,  to  the  Mobile  Register,  says :  "  Fortunately  we  are  so 
situated  our  casualties  are  but  few."  He  states  that  in  his  regiment  up  to 
date  one  commissioned  officer  and  four  men  had  been  killed,  and  twenty-four 
wounded. 


74  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

forward  to  ascertain  how  close  lie  was  to  the  confederate  works, 
and  was  fired  on  by  one  of  their  sentinels  when  within  five  or 
six  steps  from  him.  Capt.  Myers  and  party  dropped  clown,  and 
quite  a  number  of  shots  were  fired  over  them.  He  whispered 
orders  for  each  man  to  crawl  back  singly,  and  then  crawled  back 
himself.  Each  one  was  heard  and  fired  at  while  thus  retreating, 
but  none  hit. 

Capt.  Myers'  detail  was  at  work  through  the  night  digging 
their  line  of  rifle-pits,  only  fifty  yards  distant  from  the  advance 
rifle-pits  of  the  confederates  and  were  being  fired  on  by  the 
latter,  continually.  The  captain  had  repeatedly  passed  along 
the  line  of  his  four  companies  during  the  night,  and  toward 
morning,  thinking  they  were  safely  intrenched,  had  started  back 
to  the  main  line  of  the  brigade  to  report  his  situation,  when  he 
met  a  lieutenant  of  his  own  regiment  with  seven  men  bringing 
out  ammunition  for  a  company  (C),  that  had  come  with  less  than 
the  required  supply.  The  men  bringing  it  had  carelessly  been 
sent  without  arms.  He  turned  back  to  conduct  them  to  the  line 
and  came  to  a  pit — for  the  pits  were  detached — next  to  the  one 
where  the  ammunition  was  to  go,  and  a  "  sentinel"  pointed  him 
the  way.  In  passing  along  the  line  at  night  he  had  been  guided 
by  a  lone  tree  standing  where  Company  C  was  stationed  ;  but 
approaching  from  the  front  it  was  hid,  being  between  him  and 
the  high  ground  in  front,  and  there  being  another  tree  more  to 
the  right,  he  followed  that  and  came  out  unexpectedly  on  the 
confederate  lines.  His  adventure  was  told  as  follows  : 

"I  had  ordered  the  lieutenant  and  seven  men  to  keep  in 
single  file,  behind  me,  and  make  but  little  noise  in  passing 
through  the  brush  and  fallen  timber.  As  I  approached  I  said  : 
*  Boys,  I  am  coming  back  again.'  A  voice  answered,  c  Come 
on.'  A  few  steps  more  brought  me  face  to  face  with  a  reb.  in 
gray,  with  sword  at  his  side,  and  at  his  left  about  twelve  men 
(butternut  clothing)  with  arms  at  a  ready.  As  I  halted,  my  men 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  75 

closed  up  to  my  right,  placing  us  all  within  three  or  four  steps 
of  the  rebs.  We  all  saw  at  once  where  we  were.  I  was  wearing 
a  red  sash,  belt,  and  revolver ;  and  my  men  all  unarmed.  The 
rebel  officer  looked  me  close  in  the  face,  and  said :  '  Do  you 
know  where  you  are — do  you  belong  to  us  ?'  I  answered  '  Of 
course  we  belong  to  you,  ain't  you  confederate  soldiers  ?'  He 
answered  '  Yes.' 

"  I  asked,  '  What  regiment  ?' 

"He  answered,  l Forty-second.' 

"I  said,  'We  are  bringing  out  ammunition,  and  wish  to  pass 
down  the  line  with  it,  if  you  will  direct  us  the  way  to  the  next 
post.' 

"He  asked,  'What  regiment?'  but  I  began  to  ask  several 
other  questions  and  each  time  set  in  before  he  finished,  by 
making  remarks  such  as,  c  We  heard  so  much  firing  during  the 
night,  thought  you  might  be  scarce  of  ammunition — were  sent 
out  with  a  supply,  wish  to  pass  down  the  line  if  you  will  direct 
us  to  the  next  post.'  He  said,  '  We  will  show  you  the  way,  it  is 
not  far ;'  and  turning  to  his  men,  said,  '  Boys,  ah*  of  you,  come 
along.'  I  said,  '  Very  well,'  and  turning  to  my  men  said,  '  Come 
on,  boys.' 

"  I  had  feared  that  some  of  my  boys  would  run  and  the 
rest  of  us  be  fired  on,  but  they  all  stood  quiet,  trusting  me 
to  manage  affairs.  I  knew  the  reb.  knew  what  we  were,  and 
was  afraid  to  order  us  to  surrender ;  perhaps  wanted  to  first 
double  his  force  at  the  next  post.  I  wanted  to  get  on  the 
move,  and  give  the  word  to  my  men  to  run.  We  had  only 
gone  a  few  steps  when  one  of  the  rebs.  next  the  officer  said, 
1  Hold  on,  these  are  not  our  men !'  I  said,  '  You  are  certainly 
mistaken  ;'  and  while  trying  to  satisfy  him,  the  officer  became 
too  much  alarmed  to  stand  it  any  longer.  He  sang  out,  '  Re 
treat,'  turned  and  ran,  and  his  men  broke  and  ran  ;  most  of 
them  discharging  their  guns  at  me  before  running.  The  balls 


76  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

passed  close  on  both  sides  of  me.  I  called  out,  *  Fire  on  them, 
boys,  fire  on  them !'  Did  this  to  hurry  them  in  their  retreat. 
I  also  drew  my  revolver  and  fired  four  shots.  By  this  time 
my  men  had  got  started  back.  I  turned  to  follow  them,  and 
was  about  to  run  on  to  their  (confederate)  advance  sentinel, 
who  was  squatting  down  in  the  brush,  and  raised  and  fired, 
when  I  was  within  two  or  three  feet  of  the  muzzle  of  his  gun, 
hit  me  in  the  right  hip,  the  ball  hitting  the  bone,  glancing 
round,  and  coming  out  about  five  inches  from  where  it  went 
in.  I  fell  beside  him,  and  as  he  turned  to  run,  I  gave  him  the 
iwo  remaining  shots  from  my  revolver ;  he  fell  within  a  few 
steps  of  me  and  lay  quiet.  I  lay  there  a  few  minutes,  and 
the  rebs.,  from  their  breastworks  some  fifty  yards  distant,  poured 
a  heavy  fire  into  the  brush.  I  could  see  day  breaking  fast,  and 
knew  they  could  soon  see  me.  So  I  began  to  crawl  off.  Could 
not  stand  on  my  wounded  leg.  .Soon  came  to  one  of  my  boys, 
who  had  been  with  me  and  was  lost  in  the  brush.  While  he 
and  I  were  cautiously  making  ourselves  known  to  each  other, 
two  of  our  Company  C  boys,  in  their  rifle-pits,  raised  their 
guns  to  fire  at  me,  but  their  lieutenant  (Stocker,  one  of  my 
messmates)  knew  my  voice,  and  told  them  not  to  fire.  They 
then  called  me  by  name,  '  Capt.  Myers,'  and  the  rebs.,  following 
up  behind  me,  called,  '  Come  this  way.  Capt.  Myers,  come  right 
this  way.'  Lieut.  Stocker  ordered  a  few  shots  fired  at  them, 
which  stopped  their  hallooing,  and  I  came  into  the  rifle-pits 
with  Lieut.  Stocker,  related  my  adventure,  examined  my  wound, 
and  was  assisted  back  to  my  regiment. 

"  The  man  of  my  squad  who  carried  the  box  of  one  thousand 
cartridges,  threw  it  down  before  retreating,  and  the  rebs.,  next 
day,  were  afraid  to  touch  it,  and  would  call  out  to  our  men 
in  the  rifle-pits  to  come  and  get  that  infernal-machine.  When 
the  fort  was  taken,  my  colonel  sent  and  got  the  box.  The  rebs. 
would  also  call  out,  '  How  is  Capt.  Myers  ?'  Our  men  would 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  77 

reply,  '  He  is  not  dangerous,'  and  then  inquire  about  the  officer 
who  ran  from  unarmed  men." 

Sixteenth  Corps. — In  McArthur's  division,  Marshall's  brigade 
continued  to  furnish  large  details  on  a  battery  for  the  Third 
Indiana  light  guns,  and  that  brigade  and  Hubbard's  had  begun 
an  approach  from  their  main  line.  The  casualties  were  light, 
not  exceeding  one  or  two  in  each  regiment. 

In  Carr's  division  approaches  were  being  dug,  to  connect 
Moore's  first  and  second  line — the  Ninety-fifth  Illinois,  Col. 
Blanding,  being  at  work  on  the  left,  and  the  Thirty-third  Wis 
consin  upon  the  one  on  the  right.  All  the  works  were  progress 
ing  fast.  The  sharpshooters  were  able  to  silence  the  guns  in 
their  front,  and  the  casualties  of  the  division  were  light. l 

1  '  Wednesday,  March  29. — Operations  commenced  very  lively  on  both 
sides.  Casualties  on  ours  severer  than  heretofore.  I  made  a  careful  inspection 
of  both  lines.  Estimate  the  enemy's  line  of  circumvallation  at  one  thousand  to 
twelve  hundred  yards  distant — his  skirmishers  vary  from  two  hundred  and  fifty 
to  three  hundred  yards  distant.  Eight  batteries  established  against  us  j  but 
our  artillery  still  seems  to  be  superior,  and  generally  silences  theirs  whenever 
we  try  to  do  so.  Our  line  as  yet  uninjured.  The  monitor  that  engaged  Span 
ish  fort  yesterday  seems  to  be  sunk  on  Blakely  bar.  Commenced  to  use  steel- 
wrought  iron  screens  in  our  embrasures,  for  protecting  artillerists,  and  find 
them  of  general  service.  The  usual  work  of  repairs,  and  making  splinter- 
proofs,  traverses,  and  passage-ways,  carried  on  ;  also,  work  on  treadway  pushed 
ahead.  A  lively  skirmish  takes  place  on  our  right,  about  midnight,  resulting 
from  some  false  alarm  on  one  side  or  the  other." — Diary  of  a  Confederate 
Officer. 


CHAPTER    X. 

SIEGE  OF  SPANISH  FORT— FOURTH  DAT. 

March  30. — The  fourth  day  was  devoted  chiefly  to  work  in  the 
trenches  on  the  part  of  the  besiegers.  The  pits  had  been  dug 
hastily,  and  were  narrow  ;  in  many  places  the  sides  were  not 
well  sloped  but  abrupt,  so  that  a  heavy  storm  would  crumble 
them  in.  Orders  were  given  to  have  them  rectified,  and  widened 
to  six  feet.  This  was  undertaken,  but  retarded  for  want  of 
tools.  The  heavy  siege  guns  were  now  on  their  way  up  the  bay, 
and  several  batteries  were  also  commenced  for  them.  Foust's 
light  battery  of  steel  guns,  on  the  extreme  left,  had  done  excel 
lent  service  ;  and  his  ammunition  being  exhausted — but  not  his 
zeal — he  withdrew,  and  gave  place  to  four  Ill-inch  rifle-guns, 
of  Storer's  Seventh  Massachusetts,  which  were  moved  from  the 
right  of  Yeatch's  division — the  section  of  twelve-pounders  of  the 
latter  battery,  under  Lieut.  Benson,  remaining  in  their  original 
position. 

Four  light  guns,  of  Trull's  Fourth  Massachusetts  battery, 
were  on  Veatch's  left,  and  only  four  hundred  and  fifty  yards 
from  Fort  McDermett — so  near,  indeed,  that  the  men  could  hear 
the  music  of  a  brass  band  inside  that  fort.  These  guns  were 
doing  some  good  service.  The  other  section  of  the  battery, 
under  Lieut.  Briggs,  had  been  sent  to  the  extreme  left,  to  fire  on 
the  garrison's  transports  coming  to  the  wharf. 

Up  to  this  time  the  besiegers  had  in  use  nine  light  bat 
teries. 

During  this  day  a  sheH  from  Fort  McDermett  exploded  in 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  79 

the  camp  of  the  Twenty-ninth  Illinois,  killing  four  men  and 
wounding  nine  others,  all  of  Company  A. 

At  three  in  the  afternoon  Veatch's  division  was  withdrawn  in 
order  to  proceed  with  a  supply  train  to  meet  Gen.  Steele ;  and 
his  front  was  occupied  by  Marshall's  brigade  of  the  Sixteenth 
corps.  The  whole  loss  in  Veatch's  division  had  been  nine 
killed  and  forty-one  wounded. 

In  Day's  brigade,  Benton's  division,  the  Twenty-ninth  Iowa 
was  detached  to  the  rear  on  picket  duty. 

In  Carr's  division  a  part  of  Moore's  brigade  front  was  severe 
ly  enfiladed  by  guns  off  to  his  right,  and  which  he  could  not 
reach ;  probably  Lumsden's  Tuscaloosa  battery.  The  part  of 
Moore's  front  which  was  most  exposed  to  this  fire  was  occupied 
by  two  companies  of  the  Thirty-third  Wisconsin  :  Company  C, 
Capt.  William  Were,  Company  K,  Capt.  A.  H.  Fitch.  These 
officers,  with  their  companies,  without  flinching,  held  their 
position  under  a  raking  fire.  The  regiment  had  eleven  wound 
ed,  six  severely.  But  the  guns  that  inflicted  this  injury  were 
afterward  silenced  by  a  Eodman  gun  of  the  First  Indiana  light 
battery  which,  at  night,  was  placed  in  a  masked  position  in 
front  of  the  first  parallel  of  Moore's  brigade. 

The  casualties  in  the  two  divisions  during  the  day  were  five 
killed  and  twenty- six  wounded. 

On  the  extreme  left  the  Louisianians,  at  about  one  in  the 
morning,  made  another  attack  on  Bertram's  brigade  front  then 
occupied  by  the  Ninety-fourth  Illinois,  Col.  McNulta.  The 
Nineteenth  Iowa  came  up  promptly  to  the  assistance  of  the 
Ninety-fourth,  and  the  sally  party  was  driven  back  before  ap 
proaching  nearer  than  fifty  yards,  leaving  nine  dead  which 
were  buried  by  the  Ninety-fourth.  The  loss  of  the  Nineteenth 
and  Ninety-fourth  was  three  wounded. 

The  Navy. — During  the  afternoon  the  Octorara  opened  with 
effect  with  her  one  hundred-pounder  Parrott  on  Spanish  fort, 
at  a  distance  of  five  thousand  seven  hundred  yards. 


80  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

The  Garrison. — The  commanding  officer  of  the  district, 
Maj.-Gen.  D.  H.  Maury,  visited  the  garrison,  examined  the 
lines  and  concluded  to  relieve  Thomas'  reserves  with  Holtz- 
claw's  Alabama  brigade.1  In  the  evening  Lidell  sent  two 
regiments  of  Cockrell's  division  to  O.  Sibley's  to  relieve  Holtz- 
claw.  The  latter  called  in  his  pickets,  and  about  midnight 
his  brigade  was  wending  its  way  over  Saluda  hill  and  down 
the  Pensacola  road  to  Blakely  landing,  where  it  embarked  on 
the  steamers  Mary  and  Hed  Gauntlet  for  Spanish  fort. 

The  casualties  at  Spanish  fort,  on  the  30th,  were  reported  to 
be  six  killed  and  forty  wounded.  But  it  is  probable  the  lists 
of  casualties  could  not  always  be  accurate.  Once  the  Nine 
teenth  Iowa,  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  besiegers,  in  extending 
their  approach,  dug  into  a  confederate  rifle  pit  where  they  found 
two  or  three  confederates  who  had  fallen  at  their  posts  some 
time  previously,  and  been  left  unburied  by  their  comrades. 
The  garrison  during  the  day  advanced  the  work  on  the  tread- 
way  over  the  marsh  to  Fort  Huger.  - 

1  Lidell  to  Gibson:  "Blakely,  March  30.— Gen.  Maury  has  again  ordered  me 
to  relieve  the  reserve  brigade.     I  send  Holtzclaw's  brigade  to  relieve  them, 
and  you  must  have  the  reserves  ready  to  be  placed  on  the  boat  as  soon  as 
Holtzclaw  arrives.    This  must  be  done  under  cover  of  darkness  without  fail." 

2  "  Thursday,  March  30. — Enemy  very  quiet  all  day.    But  one  piece  of  artiL 
lery  fired  along  the  entire  line,  and  but  little  sharpshooting.     The  line  is  visited 
and  examined  by  the  major-general  commanding.    A  monitor  opens  in  the  even 
ing  on  our  hospital  boat.     Picket  lines  of  two  forces  not  more  than  fifty  paces 
apart  in  several  places.     Our  treadway  to  Huger  nearly  finished.     Enemy  opens 
a  Parrott  battery  across  Bay  Minette  on  Batteries  Huger  and  Tracy,  and  on 
boats  attempting  to  land  at  those  points,  thus  stopping  our  steamboat  commit 
meatier,  with  these  points  to-day." — Diary  of  a  Confederate  Officer. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

SIEGE  OF  SPANISH  FORT— FIFTH  DAY. 

March  31. — Details  from  Carr's  division  had  constructed  a 
sunken  battery  on  the  shore  of  Bay  Minette  near  the  Whit- 
worth  and  the  steel  gun  already  in  position.  Eight  thirty- 
pounder  Parrotts,  of  Battery  H,  First  Indiana  heavy  artillery, 
Capt.  W.  P.  Wimmer,  and  Battery  K,  Capt.  Cox,  had  been 
placed  there  the  night  before,  and  in  the  morning  opened  on 
some  ironclads  and  transports  which  were  lying  with  steam  up 
near  Forts  Huger  and  Tracy.  Two  side-wheelers  and  a  trans 
port  were  in  a  few  minutes  compelled  to  move  up  stream  ;  but 
the  fourth  vessel  was  of  the  turtle-back  description,  and  though 
repeatedly  hit  by  solid  shot  remained  under  fire  until  evening. 
About  one,  p.  H.,  a  transport  attempted  to  pass  down  to  the  fort, 
but  was  driven  back.  The  forts  were  continually  signalling,  and 
twice  in  the  following  night  a  transport  attempted  to  run  down 
to  them,  but  was  driven  back  each  time.  Fort  Huger  answered 
the  fire  of  these  thirty-pounders  briskly,  but  they  sustained  no 
injury. 

Capt.  W.  H.  Blankenship,  of  the  First  Indiana  heavy  artillery, 
with  his  battery  (B),  eight  Vlll-inch  mortars,  had  arrived  at 
Stark's  wharf  the  night  of  the  28th,  and,  by  working  all  night  in 
the  heavy  rain,  got  his  battery  on  the  top  of  the  hill.  The  29th, 
he  moved  out  near  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith's  headquarters.  The  30th, 
the  battery  was  divided,  forty  men  and  four  mortars,  under 
Lieut.  Eaper,  being  sent  to  the  extreme  left ;  with  fifty  men  and 
the  other  four  mortars  he  proceeded  to  Carr's  division ;  and  at 

6 


82  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

three,  A.  M.,  of  the  31st,  had  the  mortars  in  position  on  a  knoll  in 
rear  of  the  left  of  Geddes'  brigade  (Battery  No.  18),  nine  hun 
dred  yards  from  Eed  fort,  but  only  six  hundred  from  the  main 
works  of  the  garrison  in  his  immediate  front.  He  commenced 
firing  at  eight  o'clock,  and  fired  thirty-eight  rounds. 

In  Granger's  front,  Capt.  Bough  (Battery  C,  First  Indiana) 
got  his  Ylll-inch  howitzers  in  position  on  the  brow  of  a  hill 
eight  hundred  yards  from  McDerrnett,  and  delivered  an  accu 
rate  fire.  There  was  a  brisk  engagement  of  the  batteries  on 
both  sides  all  along  the  line. 

Morse's  Fourteenth  Indiana  light  battery,  at  Carr's  left, 
though  its  works  had  been  strengthened,  was  much  annoyed 
by  Slocum's  columbiad,  from  which  shells  (weighing  over  fifty 
pounds)  had  been  coming  with  their  dismal  flutter  and  with 
disagreeable  precision.  About  ten,  A.  M.,  one  of  these  shells 
struck  a  limber  of  the  Fourteenth  battery,  and,  igniting  the 
contents  (eighty  pounds  of  powder),  blew  it  in  pieces,  killing 
one  man,  seriously  wounding  two,  and  slightly  wounding  several 
others.  During  the  day,  another  man  of  the  battery  was  dan 
gerously  wounded  b}^  a  Minie-ball. 

The  First  and  Third  Indiana  and  Second  Iowa  light  batteries 
were  also  actively  engaged  in  the  Sixteenth  corps'  front,  and 
suffering  but  little. 

In  the  Thirteenth  corps,  the  chief  engineer,  Col.  Palfrey — son 
of  the  historian — designated  the  siege  guns  to  be  put  in  posi 
tion,  with  orders  that  twelve  large  rifle  guns  should  be  placed 
to  give  a  reverse  and  enfilade  fire  on  the  left  of  the  garrison's 
line,  in  front  of  the  Sixteenth  corps.  Capt.  Van  Lieuw  and 
Capt.  Morton,  of  the  Mnety-seventh  United  States  colored  in 
fantry,  were  assigned  to  duty  with  the  corps  as  assistant-engi 
neers.  The  Seventh  Vermont  veteran  infantry  and  the  Thirty- 
fifth  Wisconsin  infantry,  of  Benton's  division,  were  assigned  to 
special  duty  on  siege-works,  were  divided  into  four  reliefs,  to 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  83 

work  eight  hours  each  in  succession  ;  and  the  two  officers 
named  above,  with  Capt.  H.  G.  Palfrey,  Ninety-eighth  United 
States  colored  infantry,  with  the  assistant-engineer  of  the  di 
vision,  in  whose  front  the  work  lay,  formed  a  roster,  one  being 
on  duty  with  each  detail  in  succession. 

On  the  right  of  the  Thirteenth  corps,  the  Twenty-first  and 
Twenty-sixth  New  York  light  batteries  maintained  the  battle 
ajaimt  large  projectiles  well,  and  were  the  theme  of  praise 
a  iiong  the  infantry  regiments  around  them.  In  the  Twenty- 
firs:,  Privates  John  "Wilson  and  John  Daley  had  been  killed,  and 
Private  George  A.  White  wounded — the  first  casualty  on  the 
27th,  the  two  last  on  the  29th.  On  Granger's  left,  the  four  light 
guns  of  Trull's  Fourth  Massachusetts  battery  were  withdrawn, 
to  give  place  to  Mack's  (Black-horse  battery)  eighteen-pounders. 
In  Bertram's  front,  two  of  the  YHI-inch  (sixty-four-pounders) 
mortars  of  Battery  B,  First  Indiana  heavy  artillery,  opened  on 
Fort  McDermett. l 

A  Gallant  Exploit. — The  hulk  of  a  steamboat,  used  as  quar 
ters  at  Fort  Huger,  having  been  cut  loose  to  give  range  to 
guns,  floated  down  and  lodged  diagonally  opposite  McDermett, 
and  about  five  hundred  yards  distant.  In  a  few  minutes  Lieut. 
Bidnour,  acting  aide-de-camp,  with  Sergeant  Charles  Ashby, 
Company  G,  and  Privates  Wm.  H.  Morgan  and  A.  C.  Spreadan, 
of  Company  A,  Louis  Boy,  Company  B,  and  Bobert  Pratt, 
Company  C,  of  the  Ninety-fourth  Illinois,  paddled  out  in  a 
small  skiff  to  examine  it.  Some  of  the  squadron,  at  first  sus 
pecting  them  to  be  from  the  garrison,  commenced  shelling  them, 
but,  by  signals,  were  soon  made  to  cease.  The  garrison  then 


1  Gen.  Lidell  to  Col.  Garner  :  "  Blakely,  March  31. — Gen.  Gibson  reports  the 
enemy  have  erected  a  battery  of  heavy  guns  in  front  of  Battery  McDermett 
(No.  2).  Have  fired  a  sixty-four-pounder.  Artillery  officers  report  a  Parrott 
battery  in  front  of  No.  2.  Opened  also  thirteen  guns  on  Battery  No.  4,  and 
fired  cohorn  mortars  on  the  left." 


84  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

opened  fire  on  them  from  all  the  guns  bearing  in  that  direction, 
and  with  musketry.  But  they  made  their  way  through  the 
shower  of  shot  and  shells  to  the  object  of  their  trip,  coolly 
boarded  and  examined  it,  returned  to  their  skiff  and  paddled 
themselves  back,  but  now  under  cover  of  the  fire  from  the 
squadron.  None  of  them  was  harmed,  though  their  skiff  was. 
hit  a  number  of  times.  And  as  they  came  back  they  were 
greeted  by  the  loud  cheers  of  thousands  of  their  comrades, 
who  stood  watching  them  from  the  bluff.  The  garrison  also 
beheld  and  admired  their  gallantry.1 

Sortie  and  Capture  of  Skirmishers. — On  the  night  of  the  30th, 
Capt.  R.  B.  Stearns,  Company  K,  Seventh  Vermont,  with  a  part 
of  his  company,  had  relieved  Capt.  Parker's  company  on  the 
skirmish  line  in  front  of  the  confederate  battery  No.  3.  There 
was  a  little  firing  during  the  night,  and  Capt.  Stearns  advanced 
his  line  about  twenty-five  yards,  and  dug  new  pits — though 
there  was  only  one  spade  found  by  the  detail — which  brought 
him  in  advance  of  the  brigade  line  of  skirmishers.  He 
was  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  the  works  of 
the  garrison,  and  the  musket  fire  by  his  men  was  exceed 
ingly  troublesome  to  their  gunners.  Soon  after  noon  a 
shot  from  that  vicinity  had  instantly  killed  Col.  Win.  E. 
Burnett,  of  Texas,  confederate  chief  of  artillery,  and  a 
valuable  officer.  He  had  for  a  moment  taken  a  rifle  in 
his  hand,  and  was  in  the  act  of  aiming  it  from  behind  the 
breastworks  through  a  wooden  embrasure.  Capt.  Barnes  in 
Battery  McDerniett  had  been  giving  considerable  attention  to 
these  skirmishers,  and  they  were  also  subject  to  a  fire  from  Eed 
fort.  Beginning  early  in  the  morning  Barnes  shelled  the  line 
with  a  six-pounder  and  a  twenty-four-pounder  howitzer  for 
three  or  four  hours,  and  made  some  of  the  men  on  Stearns' 
left  fall  back  into  the  ravine.  There  was  now  a  lull,  and  the 
skirmishers  popped  out  their  heads  and  did  some  firing  them- 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  85 

selves,  for  they  were  fair  marksmen,  and  had  plenty  of  pluck. 
Barnes  then  brought  out  two  six-pounders  from  McDermett, 
placed  them  on  the  hill-top,  and  again  fiercely  shelled  Capt. 
Stearns'  position.  The  latter  concluded  it  would  be  best  to  fall 
back  a  short  distance  as  soon  as  it  became  dark,  and  sent  Cor 
poral  Crothers  to  regimental  headquarters  for  instructions.  He 
also  sent  word  that  he  expected  to  be  assaulted  before  dark, 
asked  that  the  guns  over  at  McDermett  be  silenced,  and  the 
works  of  the  garrison  in  his  front  be  shelled,  so  that  he  could 
fall  back  under  cover  of  the  fire.  The  severe  fire  which  Capt. 
Stearns  was  exposed  to  had  already  attracted  the  attention  of 
Col.  Holbrook,  the  commanding  officer  of  his  regiment. 

Arrangements  were  made  in  the  garrison  for  a  sortie.  Capt. 
Clement  "Watson  of  Gen.  Gibson's  staff  volunteered  to  lead  it. 
The  rest  of  the  party  was  to  consist  of  Lieut.  A.  C.  Newton, 
Company  E,  Fourth  Louisiana  battalion,  and  thirty  men,  fifteen 
of  whom  were  picked. 

At  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  preparatory  to  the  sortie,  the 
garrison  caused  the  slashings  and  brush  on  the  right  of  Capt. 
Stearns  to  be  fired,  and  the  smoke  blew  over  and  in  front  of 
him. 

Having  stood  the  terrific  shelling,  he  was  now  most  appre 
hensive  of  being  burned  or  smoked  out,  for  there  were  several 
trees  near  him,  and  the  wind  was  sending  the  fire  in  his  direc 
tion.  He  gave  the  order  for  his  men  to  fall  back  singly.  But 
a  hundred  bullets  came  flying  at  the  first  man  who  started,  and 
Capt.  Stearns  immediately  countermanded  the  order.  During 
the  severe  shelling  a  few  of  his  men  had  retreated  from  their 
rifle-pits,  one  of  whom,  Private  Stoors,  was  wounded.  Just  be 
fore  sunset  the  fire  had  extended  along  his  rear  and  on  his  left, 
making  so  dense  a  smoke  as  to  entirely  seclude  him.  But  the 
guns  of  the  garrison  were  still  bearing  on  him  and  now  opened 
in  a  terrific  manner.  In  less  than  ten  minutes  fifteen  shells 


86  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

were  exploded  inside,  and  directly  over  the  single  pit  in  which 
Capt.  Stearns  and  ten  of  his  men  were  stationed.  Still  ex 
pecting  an  assault  he  ordered  his  men  to  fix  bayonets. 

It  was  now  sunset.  The  cannonading  c eased.  The  same 
instant  Capt.  Watson  and  party  were  over  the  garrison  works, 
and,  concealed  by  the  smoke,  vigorously  rushed  upon  their  ex 
pected  prisoners.  Capt.  Stearns  gave  the  command  to  fire, 
which  was  obeyed  by  a  majority  of  his  men.  The  next  moment 
every  man  had  a  musket  at  his  head,  with  a  summons  to  surren 
der.  The  demand  was  complied  with.  Capt.  Stearns  and 
twenty  of  his  men  were  captured.  Without  parley  and  without 
delay,  their  captors  received  their  arms  and  hurried  them  away 
into  the  garrison.  None  of  the  sortie  party  stopped  to  occupy 
the  pits.1  The  prisoners  were  rapidly  taken  a  roundabout  way 
to  a  position  near  the  water,  which  appeared  to  be  sheltered 
from  the  fire  of  the  besiegers  by  artificial  ravines.  But  no  curi 
osity  now  inspired  them  to  notice  the  interior  of  the  garrison. 
They  were  confident  their  gallant  comrades  left  behind  would, 
before  many  days,  have  full  possession  of  everything  around 
them  ;  and  the  regret  that  they  could  not  be  present  to  partici 
pate  in  the  enthusiasm  of  victory,  increased  that  distress  of 
mind  which  is  ever  experienced  by  the  patriotic  prisoner. 
The  prospect  before  them  was  dreary. 

Capt.  Stearns  was  soon  notified  that  he  was  to  have  an  inter 
view  with  the  general  commanding  the  garrison ;  and  was 
accordingly  conducted  down  into  a  ravine  some  sixty  or  seventy 
feet  deep,  and  about  thirty  yards  wide  at  the  opening.  The 

1  Gen.  Li  dell  to  Col  Garner  (Chief  of  Staff]  :  "  Blakely,  March  31.— Gen.  Gib 
son  has  just  telegraphed  me  the  following  :  '  Capt.  Clem  in t  S.  Watson,  of  my 
staff,  and  A.  C.  Newton,  Co.  E,  Fourth  Louisiana  battalion,  led  a  sortie  at  sun 
set,  and  drove  the  enemy  from  his  advance  on  battery  3,  killed  a  large  number, 
and  captured  one  captain  and  twenty-one  enlisted  men.  These  brave  comrades 
deserve  the  thanks,  and  have  entitled  themselves  to  the  admiration,  of  this 
army.' " 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  87 

ravine  was  triangular,  with  its  base  facing  north.  In  the  apex 
were  two  wall  tents,  into  one  of  which  he  was  taken  and  in 
troduced  to  Gen.  Gibson.  here  were  present  Capt.  Watson 
and  the  lieutenant  who  accompanied  him.  The  general  invited 
Capt.  Stearns  to  partake  of  his  supper — a  frugal  repast,  con 
sisting  of  cold  fowl,  cold  water,  with  tin  table  furniture.  This  in 
vitation  was  accepted.  It  was  a  compliment  which  would  have 
bee  i  paid  only  to  a  gallant  officer.  The  garrison  had  the  best 
opportunity  to  judge  of  the  courage  and  fortitude  of  their  pris 
oners,  and  the  general  was  generous  in  acknowledging  the 
tenacity  and  courage  with  which,  under  a  most  severe  fire, 
they  held  to  their  position ;  and  the  intelligence  and  address 
of  both  the  captors  and  prisoners  seems  to  have  excited  mutual 
respect. 

After  Capt.  Stearns'  interview  with  the  general,  and  he  had 
withdrawn  from  his  tent,  he  had  some  conversation  with  persons 
of  lower  rank,  from  whom  he  learned  that  they  had  "  lost  heart" 
in  the  success  of  the  Confederacy.1 

The  casualties  of  the  garrison  on  the  31st  were  reported  to  be 
six  killed  and  twenty-six  wounded. 

1  "  HEADQUARTERS  FORCES,  SPANISH  FORT, 

"  March  31, 1865. 

"  The  commanding  officer  desires  to  make  known  to  the  troops  his  admira 
tion  of  their  unsurpassed  valor  arid  endurance,  and  his  entire  confidence  in 
their  ability  to  defend  this  outpost  of  the  defences  of  Mobile. 

"  Thousands  of  your  countrymen  with  anxious  hearts  turn  toward  you. 
"  Continue  to  prove  yourselves  worthy  of  their  confidence,  and  of  the  cause 
which  it  is  your  privilege  to  defend. 

"  Resolve  to  do  your  whole  duty,  every  hour  of  each  coming  day,  and  with 
the  blessing  of  Heaven  we  shall  continue  to  achieve  those  successes  which  so 
far  have  crowned  your  efforts. 

"RANDALL  LEE  GIBSON, 

"  Brigadier  General? 

"  Heavy  firing  around  Spanish  fort  all  day.  Col.  Burnett,  chief  of  artillery 
to  the  major-general  commanding,  killed.  Picket  line  of  the  enemy  in  front  of 
our  line  on  right  centre  uiplodged  and  twenty-one  prisoners  captured  with  no 


CHAPTER    XII. 

SIEGE  OF  SPANISH  FORT— SIXTH  DAY. 

THEKE  was  a  feeling  of  despondency  in  Mobile,  but  it  was  not 
much  shown.  Some  meetings  were  held  to  create  a  martial 
feeling  among  the  citizens  ;  the  few  ablebodied  men  who  re 
mained  in  the  city  were  armed,  did  occasional  duty  as  patrols 
or  guards,  and  were  expected  if  a  crisis  required  to  go  into  the 
trenches.  Orders  were  published  for  the  removal  of  the  slaves 
out  of  the  city.  The  people  cooked  and  sent  over  provisions  to 
the  garrison,  bestowed  every  attention  upon  the  wounded,  and 
manifested  a  devotion  well  calculated  to  keep  up  the  resolution 
of  their  defenders.  The  daily  newspapers  were  prohibited  from 
publishing  details  of  the  operations  and  casualties,  and  confined 
what  they  published  to  general  statements.  "  The  enemy," 
they  confessed  "  is  strong,  reliant,  and  ingenious."  Yet  they 
claimed  that  their  defensive  works  were  insurmountable.  "  But 
better,"  they  argued,  "  than  all  these  safeguards  is  the  valor  of 
our  soldiers." 

Owing  to  restrictions  on  the  press  only  a  few  of  the  many 
letters  written  from  the  garrison  were  published.  One  corre 
spondent  said  that  his  shoulder  was  lame  from  shooting — that 
he  "  he  shot  under  a  log  which  the  boys  called  '  skull  crackers.'  " 
Another  soldier  correspondent,  in  not  so  good  humor,  wrote 

loss  on  our  side.  A  very  large  work  commenced  in  front  of  our  left.  No 
material  advance  since  yesterday  in  the  enemy's  approaches.  Enemy  opens 
upon  my  engineer  force  on  the  marsh,  and  causes  temporary  discontinuance  of 
work  on  treadway." — Diary  of. a  Confederate  Officei*. 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  89 

that  there  was  an  immense  fleet  in  the  bay ;  that  the  vessels 
contained  the  families  of  the  Yankee  officers  impatient  to  oc 
cupy  the  fine  houses  in  Mobile,  and  appropriate  to  themselves 
the  furniture  and  costly  wares. 

The  Garrison  (April  1). — In  compliance  with  special  orders 
coffee  and  sugar  were  issued  for  the  benefit  of  the  wounded. 
It  appears  that  the  ordinary  army  rations  issued  to  the  garri 
son  were  rneal  and  a  poor  article  of  bacon. 

The  brigade  of  Brig.-Gen.  J.  T.  Holtzclaw,  having  relieved 
the  Alabama  reserves,  was  now  in  position  on  the  left  centre 
of  the  garrison. 

This  brigade  had  seen  much  hard  fighting  during  the  war;: 
and  its  last  important  battle  had  been  Nashville. 

It  was  composed  of  the  following  organizations,  all  of  Ala 
bama  troops :  Fifty-eighth  and  Thirty-second,  consolidated ; 
the  Thirty-sixth,  Col.  T.  H.  Hernden ;  the  Eighteenth,  Col.  P. 
F.  Hunley — Holtzclaw' s  old  regiment,  which  had  helped  to 
capture  the  Eighth  Iowa  at  Shiloh ;  the  Twenty-first,  Col.  J. 
Williams,  which  had  been  badly  cut  up  at  Shiloh,  then  sent  to 
Mobile,  where  it  afterward  remained ;  and  the  Thirty-eighth, 
commanded  by  Capt.  Bussy,  the  colonel  and  major  being  pris 
oners. 

The  brigade  was  so  posted  that  its  right,  consisting  of  the 
Thirty-eighth,  came  opposite  the  (garrison)  battery  No.  3, 
bringing  it  opposite  the  right  of  Benton's  division.  Next,  on 
the  left,  were  the  Twenty-first  and  Eighteenth,  reaching  to 
Battery  No.  4  (Bed  fort),  then  the  Fifty-eighth  and  Thirty- 
sixth  extending  to  the  sand-bag  battery ;  the  four  last  being 
opposite  McArthur's  division.  Next  came  Ector's  Texas  bri 
gade.  But  Ector  had  lost  a  leg  at  Atlanta  and  had  not  yet 
resumed  command.  Its  right  was  a  North  Carolina  regiment,. 
Col.  Coleman ;  and  next  were  posted  the  consolidated  regi 
ments,  about  four,  fronting  Carr's  division.  They  had  been. 


90  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

captured  as  cavalry  at  Arkansas  post,  and  for  eighteen  months 
had  served  as  infantry.  Col.  Andrews  of  Texas  now  command 
ed  the  brigade ;  Col.  Bush  Jones  of  the  Fifty-eighth  Alabama 
commanded  Holtzclaw's  brigade,  and  Holtzclaw  commanded 
both  brigades,  comprising  the  left  wing  of  the  garrison. 

The  garrison  did  not  as  yet  feel  much  pressed,  but  was 
obliged  to  work  industriously.  Orders  were  now  issued  to 
economize  ammunition,  and  immediate  leave  of  absence  for 
twenty-four  hours  was  promised  each  man  who  would  pro 
cure  twenty-five  pounds  of  lead.  This  caused  many  hun 
dred  pounds  of  the  besiegers  bullets  to  be  picked  up. 

On  the  right,  in  McDermett,  Capt.  Barnes  received  from 
Mobile,  two  twenty-pounder  Parrotts,  and  one  VHI-inch 
mortar.  The  latter  was  put  in  position  one  hundred  yards 
inside  the  fort,  on  the  interior  slope  of  the  hill.  These  in 
creased  the  whole  number  of  his  pieces  to  eighteen. 

To  reinforce  the  garrison  at  Blakely,  it  was  proposed  to 
withdraw  Ector's  brigade  from  Spanish  fort.  But,  on  the 
urgent  recommendation*  of  Gibson  and  Holtzclaw,  it  was 
.  allowed  to  remain. 1 

The  casualties  of  the  garrison  for  this  day  were  reported 
to  be  four  killed  and  seventeen  wounded.2 

1  Lidell  to  Gibson  :  "  April  1.— Gen.  Maury  has  ordered  me  to  send  no  more 
men  to  Spanish  fort,  and  to  withdraw  Eotor's  brigade.     I  do  not  know  his  ob 
ject.     Our  lines  are  two  thousand  yards  long,  and  I  have  not  enough  men  here, 
by  one  thousand,  to  man  our  fortifications,  and  Steeie's  corps'  is  reported  to  be 
larger  than  both  corps  in  front  of  your  works." 

L-idell  to  Maury  :  ''  April  1. — The  following  despatch  just  received  from 
'Gen.  Gibson:  'In  the  opinion  of  Gen.  Holtzclaw  and  m^solf,  the  withdrawal 
of  Ector's  brigade  renders  Spanish  fort  untenable,  with  the  small  force,  left 
;  against  the  large  force,  now  pressing  at  every  point.  While  this  [is]  my  candid 
conviction,  I  will  continue  heartily  and  with  renewed  efforts  to  do  my  utmost 
to  hold  this  place.'  Signed, '  R.  L.  Gibson,  Brig.-Gen.'  Please  decide  this  mat- 
•tcr  at  once  ;  the  boats  have  gone  to  Spanish  fort." 

2  "  I  made  a  careful  examination  of  the  lines  at  Spanish  fort  to-day.     Our 
'works  show  signs  of  injury  on  our  right,  but  no  damage,  as  yet,  done  to  our 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  91 

Operations  of  the  Besiegers. — The  captain  of  the  steamer  Mary 
had  reported  to  Gen.  Lidell,  at  Blakely,  the  effectiveness  of  the 
thirty-pounders  (First  Indiana)  on  the  shore  of  Bay  Minette  ; 
whereupon  that  indefatigable  officer  went  out  and  selected  a 
p;ood  position,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Minette  bayou,  for  a 
light  battery,  which  would  give  Wimnier  and  Cox  a  reverse  and 
raking  fire.  In  the  night,  two  ten-pounder  rifles,  of  Grayson's 
battery,  moved  out  from  Blakely  and  occupied  the  position, 
vrhich  was  only  about  one  thousand  yards  from  the  battery  on 
Bay  Minette  shore.  Scarcely  any  work  was  done,  for  it  was  un 
necessary,  as  the  position  was  masked  by  the  woods  ;  and,  as 
Steele  was  approaching  from  the  north,  it  was  evident  the 
guns  could  not  remain  there  long.  Grayson  opened  at  daylight 
with  the  two  rifled  guns,  and  with  decided  effect.  His  firing 
was  not  wholly  unexpected  to  Capt.  Wimmer,  for  he  had  heard 
the  noise  of  work  in  that  direction  the  preceding  night.  Gray- 
son  kept  up  a  constant  and  accurate  fire,  raking  the  Bay  Mi 
nette  battery  from  right  to  left.  Wimmer  had  no  protection 
on  his  right,  and  his  magazine  was  exposed.  Nor  was  he 
able  to  return  Grayson's  fire.  He  immediately  commenced 
throwing  up  works  to  protect  his  magazine,  his  subordinate 
officers  and  men  working  with  great  intrepidity  and  zeal.  All 
this  while  a  heavy  fire  Avas  going  on  between  his  guns  and 
Fort  Huger  and  the  gunboat  Morgan.  At  half-past  four,  P.  M., 
he  had  constructed  works  to  effectively  secure  his  magazine, 


left'.  No  signs  of  regular  sapping  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  as  yet ;  his  ap 
proaches  having  been  made  up  to  this  time  by  his  skirmishers  advancing  them 
selves  at  night,  and  protecting  themselves  by  irregular  pits.  Their  proximity 
is  such,  in  front  of  our  salients,  that  I  determine  to  try  some  countermines,  and 
order  preparation  made  to  that  end.  Enemy  opens  several  mortars  on  Spaniah 
fort.  Capt.  Grayson's  battery  of  Parrotts,  and  the  confederate  steamer  Mor 
gan,  open  fire  on  Bay  Minette  batteries.  Enemy  appears  in  front  of  Blakely, 
and  captures  about  one  hundred  men  of  the  Forty-sixth  Mississippi  regiment 
by  a  dash  on  our  outpost  "r— Diary  of  a  Confederate  Officer. 


92  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

and  also  got  one  gun  in  position  to  answer  Grayson.  But 
the  latter  had,  by  this  hour,  been  called  back  with  his  guns 
inside  the  works  at  Blakely.  It  had  been  a  furious  day  for 
Wimmer  and  Cox's  batteries,  yet  they  had  but  three  men 
injured. 

Capt.  Blankenship  commenced  work  with  his  Ylll-inch  and 
X-inch  mortars  (left  of  Geddes'  brigade,  Carr's  division),  at 
half-past  seven  o'clock,  A.  M. — fired  fifteen  rounds,  and  received 
orders  to  cease  firing.  At  noon  he  opened  again,  and  threw 
forty-seven  shells  into  Eed  fort,  out  of  fifty-one  fired,  dis 
mounting  a  gun  and  killing  two  men.  Late  in  the  evening, 
he  threw  twenty-nine  more  shells  inside  the  garrison  works. 

Hendrick's  Battery  L,  First  Indiana,  having  arrived  the 
previous  evening,  two  of  his  thirty-pounder  Parrotts,  under 
immediate  command  of  Lieut.  Parker,  opened  a  direct  fire, 
early  in  the  morning,  from  Me  Arthur's  right,  and  were  imme 
diately  answered  by  a  concentrated  fire  from  six  guns,  including 
one  VHI-inch  columbiad.  Gun  No.  3,  Corporal  James  Busby, 
gunner,  dismounted  one  of  the  garrison  guns  during  the  first 
day's  firing. 

Some  brilliant  shots  were  made  by  the  Ill-inch  rifles  of  the 
Seventh  Massachusetts — they  having  struck  the  Brooks  rifle, 
in  Fort  McDermett,  five  times  while  it  was  being  fired  twice. 

Along  the  line,  generally,  there  was  not  so  much  artillery 
firing  as  on  the  preceding  day. 

In  the  Thirteenth  corps  work  was  progressing  on  three 
heavy  batteries — Nos.  1,  2,  and  5.  After  dark  Capt.  Mack 
had  his  eighteen-pounders  hauled  into  position  with  ropes, 
by  hand,  and  got  ready  to  open  fire  the  following  morning. 

Bertram's  brigade,  on  the  left,  was  pushing  its  advance  line  up 
to  McDermett  rapidly,  day  and  night.  But  it  had  some  natural 
advantage  in  approaching  under  cover  of  the  west  slope  of  the 
bluff  on  which  the  extreme  left  of  their  line  rested.  This 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  93 

afforded  at  least  one  approach  ;  yet  the  side  of  the  bluff  was 
steep,  and  considerable  work  had  been  done  to  excavate  from 
its  side  a  terrace-walk.  Starting  from  the  rear  line,  where 
the  view  of  the  bay  and  islands  was  extensive,  the  skirmish 
ers  went  down  a  few  steps  to  the  terrace-walk,  or  covered  way, 
and  passing  along  that  some  hundreds  of  yards,  they  turned 
to  the  right,  into  an  approach,  and  then,  going  another  hun 
dred  yards,  came  into  their  present  advance  line  of  continuous 
rifle-pits,  which  was  now  less  than  two  hundred  yards  from 
the  guns  of  McDermett.  This  day  the  Ninety-fourth  Illinois 
was  on  duty  at  the  front,  and  one  of  its  men  (Thomas  Wilson, 
of  Company  A)  was  killed. 

Next,  on  the  right  of  Bertram,  was  Marshall's  brigade  of  the 
Sixteenth  corps,  occupying  and  advancing  the  works  commenced 
by  Veatch's  division  ;  its  right  resting  in  the  deep  ravine  which 
was  in  range  of  the  guns  of  Old  Spanish  fort.  Next,  on  the 
right,  was  Grier's  brigade  of  Benton's  division,  in  which  Capts. 
G.  G.  Stearns,  of  the  Seventy-seventh  Illinois,  and  Campbell,  of 
the  Ninety-sixth  Ohio,  had  been  detailed  to  take  charge  of  work 
in  the  trenches.  The  Twenty-eighth  and  Seventy-seventh  Illi 
nois  were  in  front,  and  at  night  a  sortie  was  made  on  their  skir 
mish  line,  which  was  handsomely  repulsed. 

Next,  on  the  right,  Day's  brigade  (Benton's  division)  was  re 
duced  to  two  regiments,  the  Fiftieth  Indiana  and  Ninety-first 
Illinois ;  and  on  the  right  of  that  was  the  brigade  of  Col.  Krez, 
whose  skirmishers  were  holding  an  exposed  position,  and  meet 
ing  with  some  loss. 

The  left  of  the  Sixteenth  corps  was  now  Hubbard's  brigade 
(McArthur's  division),  in  whose  front  an  approach  had  been 
extended  to  within  two  hundred  yards  of  the  main  works  of 
the  garrison,  and  his  second  parallel  there  constructed.  This 
was  manned  with  two  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  best  sharp 
shooters  of  the  brigade,  under  charge  of  Capt.  A.  P.  French, 


9  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

Fifth  Minnesota ;  the  detail  being  permanent.  The  operations 
in  that  brigade  were  conducted  with  equal  vigor  and  system. 
The  loss  in  the  brigade,  during  the  day,  was,  in  the  Thirty- 
third  Missouri,  three  killed  and  wounded,  including  Capt.  "W. 
Irwin  ;  in  the  Fifth  Minnesota,  one  wounded. 

In  McMillen's  brigade,  there  was  one  killed  in  the  Twenty- 
sixth  Indiana,  and  one  wounded  in  the  Thirty-third  Illinois. 

In  Carr's  division,  the  works  were  also  progressing  with  vigor. 
Moore's  brigade,  in  the  centre,  at  night,  commenced  work  on  a 
third  parallel,  thirty  yards  in  advance  of  the  second.  The 
casualties  in  the  division  were  two  killed  and  eight  wounded, 
two  of  the  latter  mortally. 

The  Navy. — On  this  day  another  vessel  was  sunk  by  a  tor 
pedo.  At  one,  P.  M.,  the  tinclad  steamer  Hodolph,  Acting 
Master  N.  M.  Dyer,  in  obedience  to  signal  from  flagship, 
weighed  anchor,  passed  within  hail,  and,  receiving  orders  to 
take  a  barge  alongside  containing  apparatus  for  raising  the 
Milwaulde,  proceeded  with  it  inside  the  Blakely  bar.  The  Ro- 
dolph  had  crossed  the  bar,  and  was  standing  up  toward  the 
wreck  of  the  Milwaulde,  when,  at  2:40,  P.M.,  being  directly 
between  the  Chickasaw  and  Winnebago,  she  exploded  a  torpedo 
under  her  starboard  bow,  and  rapidly  sank  in  twelve  feet  of 
water.  It  appeared  that  a  hole  had  been  made  in  her  ten  feet 
in  diameter.  By  this  casualty  four  of  her  crew  were  killed  and 
seven  wounded,  of  whom  five  were  colored  men. 

Here,  for  a  short  time,  let  us  withdraw  attention  from  the 
operations  at  Spanish  fort,  and  observe  the  movement  of  Steele'e 
column  out  from  Pensacola. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

OPERATIONS  OF  STEELE'S  COLUMN  FROM  PENSACOLA  BAY. 

MAJ-GEN.  F.  Steele  arrived  at  Barrancas  on  the  28th  of  Feb 
ruary,  and  assumed  command  of  the  troops  operating  from 
Pensacola  bay.  The  Second  and  Third  brigades  of  the  Second 
division,  Thirteenth  army  corps,  with  the  Second  Connecticut 
and  Fifteenth  Massachusetts  light  batteries,  five  thousand  two 
hundred  effective  men,  were  already  at  that  place  and  in  readi 
ness  to  march.  A  few  days  afterward  Hawkins'  colored  divis 
ion,  five  thousand  five  hundred  effective,  arrived,  and  by  the 
middle  of  March,  Lucas'  cavalry  brigade,  two  thousand  five 
hundred,  had  landed.  The  whole  force  amounted  to  thirteen 
thousand  two  hundred. 

Steele  at  once,  in  person,  began  a  thorough  inspection  of  his 
troops  ;  taking  one  regiment  at  a  time  (formed  in  column  of 
companies),  and  going  through  it  examining  the  arms,  accoutre 
ments,  and  clothing  of  each  soldier. 

A  heavy  pontoon  train  had  arrived,  and  Capt.  Boyle  of.  the 
Thirty-fourth  Iowa  drilled  his  company  successfully  in  the  prac 
tice  of  laying  the  bridge,  but  Gen.  Steele  wisely  concluded  to 
leave  it  behind. 

On  the  10th  of  March,  the  Second  division  got  orders  to  move 
to  Pensacola,  and  repair  the  wharf.  This  was  in  order  that  the 
place  could  be  available  as  a  depot  and  base,  if  subsequent 
operations  should  require  it.  The  same  afternoon  the  division 
commander  went  up  to  Pensacola  in  a  tug  and  ascertained  what 
work  needed  to  be  done. 


96  CAMPAIGN     OF    MOBILE. 

At  sunrise  the  next  morning  (March  11),  the  division  was 
a  mile  from  camp,  just  entering  the  woods  on  the  eastern 
part  of  the  peninsula,  with  the  train  of  eighty  wagons  of  sup 
plies.  The  distance  round  the  head  of  the  bayou  to  Pensacola 
is  thirteen  miles,  the  road  sandy  and  very  heavy.  It  was  the 
same  road  over  which  Jackson  marched  in  1818  with  his  army 
of  three  thousand  men  and  two  pieces  of  artillery.  Some  of  the 
road  was  under  water ;  and  it  was  also  necessary  to  construct 
a  few  small  bridges.  Two  miles  out  of  Pensacola,  the  road  for 
several  hundred  yards  was  obstructed  with  slashings  of  pine- 
trees  ;  but  these  were  cut  and  rolled  out  of  the  way  in  a  most 
rapid  manner  by  the  pioneer  company,  assisted  by  details  from 
tlie  column.  The  advance  guard,  consisting  of  a  detachment 
of  the  Second  Maine  cavalry,  entered  the  towTn  soon  after  noon, 
and  by  three,  P.  M.,  the  division  was  on  its  camping  ground. 
The  Second  brigade  (Spiceley's)  camped  on  the  ridge  south  of 
the  old  fort ;  the  Third  brigade  (Moore's)  camped  on  the  level 
ground  east  of  the  railroad.  The  march  had  been  pleasant  and 
successful.  • 

The  next  day,  being  Sunday,  repairs  of  the  wharf  were  not 
fully  commenC3d,  yet  Mr.  Gray,  principal  mechanic  in  the  quar 
termaster's  service,  arrived  from  Barrancas  with  a  detail  of  some 
fifty  men  from  the  colored  regiment,  with  tools,  and  commenced 
taking  up  plank  and  caps  from  another  wharf.  The  repairs  that 
were  to  be  made  consisted  chiefly  in  driving  piles  and  making 
new  wharf  to  fill  up  two  gaps,  each  three  hundred  feet  in  length, 
in  the  central  or  main  wharf.  The  next  morning,  seventy  pine 
logs  for  piles  were  hauled  from  the  neighboring  woods  to  the 
wharf  before  eight  o'clock ;  and  during  the  day  two  hundred 
were  cut  and  hauled  ;  and  also  sharpened.  Mr.  Gray  was 
assisted  by  the  Pioneer  corps  and  details  from  the  division,  and 
all  engaged  worked  in  an  earnest-hearted  manner.  Nearly  all  r 
the  planks  and  caps  needed  were  brought  in  boats  from  the 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  97 

neighboring  wharf ;  and  one  pile  was  nearly  driven  when  the 
wind  and  waves  rose  and  stopped  the  work.  There  being  no 
pile-driver,  the  piles  had  to  be  worked  into  the  ground  by  their 
own  weight.  For  example,  a  pile  having  been  placed  upright, 
a  rope  was  then  made  fast  near  the  top  ;  and  while  the  pile  was 
kept  steady,  it  was  swayed  backward  and  forward  by  men  pull 
ing  on  two  sides  till  it  became  firmly  set  in  the  ground. 

The  next  day  the  storm  continued  and  no  work  could  be  done. 
On  the  15th  it  was  resumed.  It  was  also  concluded  to  lay  a 
railway  track  from  the  end  of  the  wharf,  when  it  should  be 
repaired,  up  the  main  street  as  far  as  the  quartermaster's  and 
commissary's  stores.  Capt.  McComas,  acting  engineer,  and  a 
detail  from  the  Eighty-third  Ohio,  under  officers  of  railroad 
experience,  then  commenced  taking  up  the  track  and  ties  011  the 
Montgomery  railroad.  On  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  the  18th, 
the  work  was  entirely  finished.  The  wharf  was  made  service 
able  and  strong  ;  eight  hundred  yards  of  railroad  completed,  a 
platform  car  made  and  put  on  it  in  running  order.  This  was  all 
done  in  five  and  a  half  days.  Though  the  work  was  done  to 
provide  for  a  future  contingency,  the  industrious  men  who  per 
formed  it  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  it  available  the  next  day,  in 
landing  and  bringing  up  supplies. 

Pensacola  at  that  time  was  indeed  remarkable  for  its  ruined 
and  lonely  condition.  It  appeared  once  to  have  contained  five 
thousand  inhabitants ;  but  it  did  not  then  have  a  hundred.  It 
had  been  raided  upon  by  troops  on  both  sides.  Apparently  the 
best  part  of  the  town  had  been  swept  away  by  fire.  Amid  the 
ruins,  the  shrubbery,  and  here  and  there  delicate  flowers,  recalled 
a  period  of  taste,  if  not  of  affluence.  But  now  there  was  not  a 
dozen  sound  buildings  in  the  town,  and  not  a  single  shop  doing 
business. 

Not  knowing  how  long  they  would  remain,  the  troops  hand 
somely  policed  their  camp  and  parade  grounds,  and  built 


98  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

quarters ;  using  for  the  latter  materials  from  the  ruined  build 
ings  in  town. 

Nor  did  they  neglect  to  devote  some  hours  to  military  exer 
cises. 

Information  of  the  movement  of  these  troops  from  Barrancas 
(familiarly  Imown  in  that  neighborhood  as  the  "Navy-yard") 
reached  Gen.  Maury  in  Mobile  in  about  thirty-six  hours  after 
they  had  started;  but  their  number  was  estimated  at  about 
four  times  what  it  actually  was. l  At  that  time  the  confederates 

1  Lidell  to  Maury :  "Blakely,  March  12, 1  A.  M. — Despatch  from  Greenwood 
that  enemy  left  navy-yard  early  yesterday  morning  (the  llth)  in  direction  ol 
Gonzalis.  Cavalry,  infantry  and  artillery,  twenty  thousand  strong." 

Same  to  Same:  "March  12,  5:12  A.  M. — The  following  despatch,  just  received 
by  Capt.  Tutt,  a  reliable  officer,  commanding  at  Greenwood:  'Just  received  a 

despatch  from  Mr. confirming  the  movement  of  the  enemy  from  the 

navy-yard  yesterday  morning.  They  encamped  near  Pensacola  last  night  with 
eighteen  or  twenty  thousand,  where  they  were  to  be  joined  by  Gen.  Steele 
with  the  balance  of  the  command.  Whole  force  estimated  at  about  twenty-five 
thousand.  Think  they  are  coming  out  by  Gonzalis.'  " 

Same  to  Same:  "March  12,  5:10  P.  M. — They  had  seventy-nine  wagons  and 
about  seven  days'  provisions." 

Lidell  to  Col.  Armistead,  at  Pollard:  "March  12,  5:20  A.  M. — The  enemy  is 

moving  out  from  Pensacola Apprize  me  as  soon  as  you  ascertain  what 

direction  the  enemy  takes.  Collect  all  your  cavalry  and  keep  in  front  of  him." 

Lidell  to  Col.  Armistead:  "March  12,  6:45  p.  M. — By  direction  of  Gen- 
Maury  you  will  keep  as  close  to  the  enenw  as  possible,  and  keep  in  constant 
communication  with  Geri.  Dan.  Adams  at  Montevallo  and  Gen.  Taylor  at 
Meridian." 

Lidell  to  Armistead:  "Marchl^,  10:10  P.  M Have  you  heard  anything 

from  your  Pensacola  road  scouts  ?  Where  are  your  '  sub-terra'  shells  and  your 
piece  of  artillery  ?  Keep  them  with  you,  and,  if  possible,  use  them." 

Lidell  to  Armistead:  "  March  13,  9  P.  M. — Push  forward  your  scouts  at  once 
to  Pensacola  ;  find  out  where  the  enemy  is,  and  what  he  is  doing." 

.Same  to  Same:  "March  14,  11:30  P.  M. — The  main  body  will  yet  move 
toward  Pollard,  or  this  way.  Watch  him  closely  until  he  develops  his  inten 
tions." 

Same  to  Same  :  "  March  17. — Later  information  states,  that  the  enemy  is  in. 
creasing  rather  than  diminishing  his  force.  Unless  your  scouts  go  nearer  the 
navj -yard  atad  Pensacola,  they -cannot  ascertain  the  facts." 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  99 

had  military  posts  at  Canoe  station  and  Pollard  on  the  Mont 
gomery  and  Mobile  railroad,  about  fifty  miles  north  of  Pensa- 
cola ;  and  there  was  a  picket  of  thirty  men  at  Pine  Barren 
creek.  On  the  12th,  Gen.  Lidell  telegraphed  Col.  Armistead 
at  Canoe  station  that  the  federals  had  moved  out  from  Pensa- 
cola.  This  was  a  mistake,  and  must  have  led  to  some  uncer 
tainty.  Col.  Armistead  complied  with  the  urgent  appeals  made 
to  him  to  send  scouts  down  to  Pensacola.  On  the  15th,  a  small 
party  of  confederates  appeared  in  front  of  the  picket  four  miles 
out  on  the  Pollard  road,  but  without  accomplishing  anything 
further  than  obtaining  a  glimpse  of  the  picket.  This  led  to 
the  strengthening  of  the  cavalry  picket  on  that  road  with  a 
company  of  infantry  so  disposed  as  to  render  the  capture  of  a 
small  party  probable  if  they  had  again  appeared. 

The  confederates  were  no  less  vigilant  and  eager.  Gen, 
Lidell  had  instructed  his  outposts  with  a  view  of  capturing 
any  federal  scouts  or  picket  that  might  be  sent  out,  specially 
enjoining  them  "  to  be  certain  of  capturing  the  whole  party,  so 
that  the  enemy  will  not  know  what  has  become  of  thein."-1- 

On  the  19th,  Gen.  Steele,  with  Hawkins'  division  and  Lucas1 4 
cavalry  brigade,  moved  to  Pensacola ;  taking  the  short  route 
over  the  wide  ford  northeast  of  Barrancas.  The  cavalry  bri 
gade  consisted  of  the  Second  Illinois  cavalry  (but  then  detached 
to  act  with  Spurling),  First  Louisiana  cavalry,  Second  New 
York  veteran  cavalry,  the  battalion  of  Thirty-first  Massachu 
setts  mounted  infantry,  and  the  Second  Massachusetts  light 
battery.  Part  of  this  brigade  crossed  the  ford  in  the  dark, 
and  the  Thirty-first  Massachusetts  lost  two  horses  with  equip- 

1  Lidell  to  Capt.  J.  V.  Tutt,  commanding  at  Greenwood:  " MarcJi  15. — Send 
out  a  force  sufficient  to  capture  any  picket-posts  of  the  enemy,  or  scouting 
parties  that  they  may  send  out.  You  will  instruct  the  officer  in  charge  (who 
must  be  a  competent  one)  to  be  certain  of  capturing  the  whole  party,  so  that 
the  enemy  will  not  know  what  has  become  of  them  ;  and  in  that  way  you  may 
b«  able  to  gain  some  information  concerning  the  intentions  of  the  enemy." 


100  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

ments.  The  same  day,  Lieut.-Col.  Spurling,  with  eight  hun 
dred  cavalry,  v/ent  on  transports  to  the  east  shore  of  the  Black- 
water,  and  thence  moved  to  strike  the  railroad  above  Pollard. 

On  the  20th,  Steele's  command  moved  out  from  Pensacola  011 
the  Pollard  road,  with  ten  days'  rations — five  earned  by  the 
men  and  five  in  the  wagons.  There  were  about  two  hundred  and 
seventy  wagons  in  the  whole  column.  Each  division  took  charge 
of  its  own  train.  The  Second  division  of  the  Thirteenth  corps 
had  the  advance,  and  started  at  daylight.  It  was  followed  by 
the  colored  division.  The  cavalry  brigade  (except  the  Second 
Illinois,  which  embarked  with  Spurling)  left  Pensacola  at  three, 
p.  M.,  and  bivouacked  at  ten,  P.  M.,  four  miles  out,  the  roads 
having  been  badly  cut  up  by  the  infantry.  The  Second  divis 
ion,  being  in  the  advance,  moved  along  pleasantly,  halting  ten 
minutes  every  hour,  and  wrent  into  camp  by  noon,  at  the  Twelve- 
inilo  house,  in  a  pine  forest,  where  the  ground  sloped  a  few 
hundred  yards  down  to  a  clear  stream.  Each  regiment  came 
up  in  handsome  style,  with  the  music  playing.  Moore's  brigade 
had  been  seen  by  confederate  scouts,  and  the  number  of  regi 
ments  counted,  eight  miles  out  from  Pensacola.1 

A  few  wagons  of  the  train  had  sunk  down  to  the  hubs  in  the 
sand  in  some  places,  and  these  were  not  up  till  after  dark.  Haw- 
kins'  division  went  into  camp  not  far  from  the  Second,  before 
dark.  The  picket  on  the  road  was  posted  a  mile  and  a  half  out. 
It  was  in  charge  of  Capt.  Rockwell,  Thirty-fourth  Iowa,  who 
had  his  men  so  arranged  as  to  have  captured  any  confederate 
scouts  if  they  had  ventured  closely  up.  Before  midnight,  a 


1  Capt.  Lewis  to  Col.  Gamer,  Chief  of  Staff :  "  Blakely,  March  21.— Have 
just  received  following  telegram  Hd.  Qrs.,  Canoe  Station,  March  21.  To 
H.  L.  7).  Lewis,  A.  A.  A.  G.:  Scouts,  just  in,  report  five  (5)  regiments  of 
enemy's  infantry,  with  small  body  of  cavalry,  eight  (8)  miles  this  side  of  Pen 
sacola,  at  twelve  o'clock  yesterday.  Have  sent  down  two  regiments  to  meet 
them,  if  still  advancing.  " '  C.  G.  ARMISTEAD,  Col.  Comd'g.' M 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  101 

heavy  fall  of  rain  commenced,  and  continued  to  come  down  in  a 
steady  pour  till  ten  the  next  day.  It  was  the  same  storm  that 
impeded  the  column  marching  up  the  eastern  shore  of  the  bay 
to  Fish  river.  The  ground  was,  in  many  places,  so  flooded, 
the  troops  were  driven  from  their  slumber  and  rest  before 
morning. 

At  daylight  of  the  21st,  Spiceley's  brigade,  of  the  Second 
division,  moved  out  of  camp,  and  pursued  the  march.  Moore's 
brigade  remained,  to  take  charge  of  the  division  train.  As 
soon  as  it  was  light,  the  artillery  and  the  wagons  attempted 
to  get  out  of  park  and  move  on.  Then  appeared  a  most  dis 
couraging  and  dismal  prospect.  The  ground;  seeming  to  be 
a  mere  crust,  which  the  falling  torrents  had  softened  and  dis 
solved,  many  of  the  wagons  and  artillery  carriages  had  actually 
sunk  down  to  the  hubs  in  the  very  tracks  where  they  had 
stood.  The  thought  occurred  to  every  one  that  he  was  indeed 
in  the  midst  of  the  Florida  swamps !  In  the  midst  of  large 
trees,  where  the  ground  was  covered  with  a  thin  grass,  and 
with  'every  indication  of  its  being  firm  and  solid,  the  wheels 
would  sink  down,  and  the  mules,  in  their  struggles  to  draw, 
would  themselves  plunge  into  the  quicksand,  and  require 
assistance  to  get  out.  Then  wagons  would  be  unloaded,  and, 
after  moving  a  little  way,  and  getting  upon  what  seemed  firm 
ground,  would  be  reloaded.  The  men  pushed  from  behind, 
and  tugged  at  every  wheel.  In  some  cases  ropes  were  hitched 
to  the  wagon-tongues,  and  the  men  laying  hold,  pulled  the 
loaded  wagons  a  considerable  distance.  Meantime,  the  pio 
neers  were  busy  with  their  axes,  cutting  down  small  trees  to 
corduroy  the  road.  At  first  only  bad  places  would  be  cordu 
royed.  But  these  were  constantly  occurring ;  for,  if  one  team 
passed  safely,  the  next  was  liable  to  be  stalled,  if  it  followed 
in  the  same  track.  It  seemed  desirable  to  avoid  corduroying 
the  entire  road,  jet  it  would,  perhaps,  have  been  economy  of 


102  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

labor  to  have  done  so.  During  the  day  Moore's  brigade 
performed  much  work  on  the  road,  and  in  getting  the  train 
along.  The  division  marched  only  three  miles,  and  camped 
near  the  Fifteen-mile  house.  The  most  of  the  train  was  up 
by  dark. 

The  division  commander  had  waited  to  see  the  artillery 
and  teams  get  started,  and  to  judge  how  far  they  could  move 
during  the  day.  He  then,  with  the  staff,  passed  on,  and  over 
took  Spiceley  at  eight  o'clock,  not  far  from  the  point  where  it 
was  intended  to  camp.  The  rain  was  still  falling.  Spiceley 
had  his  brigade  drawn  up  in  line  on  the  right  of  the  road, 
in  closed  ranks,  the  men  with  their  oilcloths  (ponchos)  on, 
standing  at  secure  arms,  with  a  cheerful  expression  of  coun 
tenance.  The  fine  brass  bands  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Indiana 
and  Seventy-sixth  Illinois  struck  up  inspiring  music.  It  was 
like  a  review — a  singular  spectacle,  but  one  delightful  to  the 
soldier.  None  but  a  natural  soldier  would  have  conceived  the 
idea. 

The  cavalry  brigade  started  at  noon,  and  marched  three  miles 
only,  such  were  the  difficulties  of  the  road,  and  bivouacked  at 
dark.  Steele  did  not  move  his  quarters,  but  was  active  in  help 
ing  along  the  column.  A  large  mail  having  arrived,  was  dis 
tributed  in  the  afternoon. 

The  next  day,  the  22d,  was  pleasant.  Spiceley's  brigade  fur 
nished  large  details  to  improve  the  road  four  miles  to  the  front. 
Before  noon,  Hawkins'  division  got  up  near  the  Fifteen-mile 
house,  and  camped.  Lucas'  cavalry  arrived  late  in  the  after 
noon.  About  noon,  Steele,  with  the  division  commanders,  ex 
amined  the  road  three  miles  to  the  front.  The  inspector  exam 
ined  the  wagons,  and  caused  some  hundreds  of  pounds  of 
baggage  to  be  abandoned. 

The  confederates  were  still  using  every  exertion  to  ascertain 
Steeie's  force  and  purpose.  Their  latest  information  estimated 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  103 

his  strength  at  thirty  thousand.  About  the  same  time,  they 
learned  that  Thomas  was  sending  down  forces  from  the  north.1 

The  march  was  resumed  the  following  morning,  March  23d. 
The  cavalry  was  in  the  advance,  immediately  followed  by  Haw- 
kins'  division.  In  the  Second  division  the  artillery  and  wagon- 
train  began  to  hitch  up  at  nine  o'clock,  and  the  division  was  on 
the  march  by  ten.  But  the  road  was  so  cut  up  by  the  trains  in 
advance,  that  Spiceley's  brigade,  having  charge  of  the  train  of 
the  Second  division,  had  to  renew  its  labor  on  the  roads  before 
it  was  a  mile  from  camp,  and  was,  in  fact,  busy  corduroying 
nmch  of  the  ten  miles  to  Pine  Barren  creek. 

A  detachment  of  confederate  cavalry  under  Lieut. -Col.  Leary 
was  watching  Steele's  advance,  and  occasionally  from  behind  log 
breastworks  on  a  favorable  crest  attempted  to  hold  him  in 
check.  Early  in  the  forenoon  there  was  considerable  noise  of 
musketry,  and  the  Thirty-first  Massachusetts,  Lucas'  rear 
battalion,  was  called  to  the  front  in  a  gallop.  But  the  obstruc 
tion  was  not  serious  ;  and  before  reaching  Pine  Barren  creek 
the  confederates  filed  off  toward  the  north,  for  they  knew  the 
bridge  was  destroyed,  and  that  the  stream  was  not  fordable. 


1  Lidell  to  Armistead:  "  March  22. — Let  me  know  what  is  going  on  in  your 
front." 

Lidell  to  Maury :'"  March  22.  5:15,  A.  M. — I  received  the  enclosed  despatches 
about  midnight,  and  send  them  to  you  by  first  boat.  Lieut.  Sibley's  report,  in 
a  great  measure,  confirms  that  sent  yesterday  from  Col.  Armistead  from  Canoe 
station.  The  enemy's  strength  being,  however,  ten  thousand  less  [despatch  had 
estimated  Steele's  force  at  forty  thousand]  in  this  last.  You  will  see  that  Gen 
Thomas  co-operates  from  Vicksburgh  simultaneously.  I  now  think  there  can 
be  no  longer  any  doubt  upon  the  subject.  It  is  sad  to  think  of  the  desolation 
that  will  follow  the  traces  of  these  columns  of  devastating  Yankees ! ! !  I  have 
nothing  late  from  the  force  coming  up  by  Fish  river.  I  can  only  conjecture 
that  if  sufficiently  large,  it  will  attempt  to  get  possession  of  Spanish  fort  for  a 
base,  whence  occupation  can  be  given  to  the  fleet  in  the  bay.  In  carrying 
through  the  movement  on  Selma,  the  use  of  the  Alabama  river  is  of  the  utmost, 
importance  to  the  enemy  ;  henoe  I  don't  think  we  will  be  permitted  to  remain 
in  quiet  long." 


104  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

Their  loss  had  been  one  killed  and  one  captured.  At  noon, 
Steele,  being  at  the  front,  came  to  where  the  ground  begins  to 
descend  to  the  Pine  Barren.  It  was  a  mile  from  that  stream. 
Just  there  was  a  farm  under  fair  tillage,  and  on  both  sides  of 
the  road  a  high  rail  fence.  Four  miles  off  to  the  right  could 
be  seen  the  high  and  wooded  bank  of  the  Escambia,  having  a 
picturesque  appearance.  From  this  point  of  observation  to  the 
Pine  Barren  the  descent  was  some  three  hundred  feet ;  but 
there  were  several  intervening  hills,  and  on  both  sides  of  the 
road  an  open  pine  forest.  Gen.  Steele  soon  ascertained  the 
condition  of  Pine  Barren  creek ;  that  it  was  ten  feet  deep,  its 
banks  widely  overflowed,  and  the  current  violent ;  also  that  the 
bridge  was  destroyed.  Companies  A  and  D,  Capt.  Bond,  and 
Lieut.  Bond  of  the  Thirty-first  Massachusetts,  crossed  the 
stream,  dismounted,  on  driftwood,  and  after  exchanging  a  few 
shots  with  the  confederate  picket,  drove  it  away,  and  remained 
there  themselves  as  a  picket.  One  confederate  was  wounded. 
Capt.  Newton,  assistant-engineer  on  Gen.  Steele's  staff,  soon 
after  commenced  the  construction  of  a  bridge  assisted  by  large 
'  details  from  the  infantry.  The  cavalry  went  into  camp  on  the 
left  side  of  the  road  a  few  hundred  yards  from  the  creek,  and 
on  high  ground.  Hawkins'  division  about  opposite  on  the 
right  of  the  road.  The  Second  division  coming  up  by  the 
middle  of  the  afternoon  camped  on  both  sides  of  the  road  in 
rear  of  the  other  troops.  Steele's  tents  were  pitched  on  the 
left  of  the  road  in  the  centre  of  his  command.  By  direction, 
the  troops  repeated  the  evening  call  twice  to  give  the  confed 
erates  an  exaggerated  impression  of  their  number. 

The  weather  continued  pleasant  on  the  24th.  Lucas  had 
scouts  out  to  Williams'  station,  and  some  infantry  of  the  Second 
division  were  sent  down  to  the  Escambia  landing,  to  look  for 
steamboats,  which  were  expected  from  Barrancas  with  supplies. 
But  some  accident  prevented  their  arrival.  Captain  Newton, 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  105 

though  in  poor  health,  continued  hard  at  work,  constructing  the 
bridge,  and  much  of  the  time  was  in  the  water.  He  was  assisted 
by  Captain  Pickering's  pioneers,  and  other  details.  White  and 
colored  troops  were  working  together.  At  about  three  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon,  he  said  it  would  be  finished  in  an  hour,  which  wTas 
sooner  than  the  commanding  general  expected.  This  informa 
tion  was  immediately  communicated  unofficially  to  Gen.  Lucas, 
who  ordered  "  Boots  and  Saddles"  to  be  sounded,  then  to  Gen.. 
Hawkins,  and  then  to  Gen.  Steele,  who  at  once  sent  out  orders 
for  the  command  to  move  that  evening.  The  bridge  was  finish 
ed  at  the  time  specified  ;  and  was  three  hundred  feet  in  length. 
Considering  that  the  logs  had  to  be  newly  cut  and  carried  some 
little  distance,  that  the  current  was  deep  and  swift,  that  its 
banks  were  flooded  bottoms,  covered  with  timber  and  under 
brush,  difficult  to  move  about  in,  a  bridge  of  that  kind  to  be 
made  in  one  day,  is  a  respectable  achievement.  Yet  it  was  no 
singular  instance  of  the  soldier's  enterprise  and  toil. 

The  cavalry  began  to  cross  as  soon  as  the  bridge  was  done. 
Its  wagon  train  moved  tardily.  It  had  to  descend  a  steep  hill, 
terminating  at  the  river  bank,  and  the  road  being  much  washed 
the  wagons  could  not  well  be  held  back,  and  were  in  danger  of 
striking  against  trees.  At  that  late  hour,  a  few  trees  had  to  be 
chopped  down,  and  some  other  work  done  on  the  road.  The 
Second  division  had  moved  out  of  camp  and  had  to  sit  down  on 
the  road  side  till  the  teams  had  got  over.  Spiceley's  brigade 
was  the  advance  of  that  division  and  the  Sixty-ninth  Indiana, 
Lieut.-Col.  Perry,  was  down  at  the  river  bank.  Next  to  the 
bridge,  the  road,  for  one  hundred  feet  or  more,  was  covered  with 
water  a  foot  deep ;  and  the  men  of  that  battalion  had  taken  off 
their  shoes  and  stockings,  and  rolled  up  their  trowsers,  so  as  to 
be  ready  to  wade  to  the  bridge.  It  was  nearly  dark  before  the 
cavalry  wagon  train  was  over.  The  Second  division  then  fol 
lowed.  There  was  but  a  slight  rise  of  the  ground  from  the 


106  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

north  bank,  and  the  surface  was  thickly  wooded  with  pine. 
The  artillery  and  wagons  of  the  Second  division  had  moved 
but  a  few  rods  after  crossing  the  Pine  Barren,  till  the  wheels 
began  to  sink  down  horridly.  Moore's  brigade  had  charge  oi' 
the  train,  and  the  men  had  to  resume  the  toil  of  corduroying. 
The  artillery  and  train  got  a  mile  and  a  quarter  from  the  river 
at  about  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  bivouacked  on  rather 
high  ground,  half  a  mile  from  the  cavalry.  The  colored  division 
did  not  move  till  morning.  Lucas  had  pickets  out  about  two 
miles  to  the  front,  and  during  the  night  their  shots  were  fre 
quently  heard. 

In  coarse  of  the  day,  his  scouts  had  brought  in  a  Mr.  Wil 
liams  as  prisoner,  who  imparted  to  Gen.  Steele  some  informa 
tion  respecting  the  roads,  and  was  detained  by  the  latter  till 
the  next  day.  He  acquired  the  impression  that  Gen.  Steele 
was  moving  on  Montgomery,  which  was  not  singular.  Nor 
was  it  strange  that  a  citizen  should  estimate  his  force  to  be 
twenty-five  thousand.  But  that  it  should  be  thought  he  was 
taking  five  hundred  pieces  of  artillery  through  the  swamps  of 
Florida,  must  indeed  be  considered  an  extraordinary  esti 
mate.  T 


lLidell  to  Maury:  "  Blakely ,  March  25. — The  following  despatch  has  just 
'been  received  from  Col.  Armistead  :  '  Canoe  Station,  March  25.  Capt.  Lewis, 
A.  A.  A.  G. :  Since  last  despatch,  a  scout  has  arrived  :  says  Bud  Williams 
was  captured  by  enemy  yesterday,  and  detained  all  night  at  Gen.  Steele's 
headquarters.  From  observation,  and  information  received  from  enemy,  Wil 
liams  says  his  force  is  twenty-five  thousand,  with  over  five  hundred  wagons 
and  a  great  many  pieces  of  artillery,  thinks  five  hundred.  (!)  Says  Gen.  Steele 
kept  him  all  night  giving  information  as  to  the  roads  and  towns  between  Pol- 
ilard  and  Montgomery.  This  force  moving  on  Montgomery,  negro  and  white 
;troops  about  equally  divided.  Steele  asked  information  as  to  all  roads  run 
ning  parallel  in  direction  of  Montgomery  and  Claiborne.' " 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

CONTINUATION   OF  STEELE'S  MARCH. 

STEELE'S  column  moved  out  on  the  morning  of  the  25th,  at 
daylight,  with  expectations  of  a  fight.  Scouts  had  brought 
reports  the  evening  before,  that  two  brigades  of  confederates* 
with  artillery,  were  intrenched  on  some  creek  a  few  miles  ahead, 
and  .intended  to  make  a  determined  resistance.  The  picket 
firing,  which  had  been  heard  in  the  night,  and  other  circum 
stances,  seemed  to  render  the  report  probable. 

Lucas's  troops  encountered  slight  resistance  when  three 
miles  out.  At  nine  o'clock,  they  reached  Mitchell's  creek,  on  the 
opposite  bank  of  which  a  cavalry  force  of  about  four  hundred, 
under  Col.  Charles  P.  Ball,  was  intrenched.  Some  distance 
in  Ball's  rear  was  Clanton's  brigade,  as  a  reserve.  The  bridge 
had  been  partly  destroyed.  The  banks,  though  not  high,  were 
skirted  with  a  thick  growth  of  shrubbery,  which  was  material 
as  a  cover  and  defence.  Having  learned  the  nature  of  the 
force  in  his  front,  Lucas  sent  a  detachment  of  the  Second  New 
York  veteran  cavalry,  under  Col.  Christler,  through  the  woods 
to  the  left,  to  cross  the  stream,  if  practicable,  a  mile  above, 
and  come  in  on  the  right  flank  and  rear  of  the  confederates. 
He  then  caused  three  companies  of  the  First  Louisiana  cav 
alry  to  dismount  and  cross  the  stream  below.  They  attacked 
Ball's  left  with  great  spirit,  and,  after  a  short  contest,  made 
him  abandon  his  position.  This  firing  was  plainly  heard  by 
the  federal  infantry.  The  Second  division  followed  the  cavalry. 
And  at  about  ten,  A.  M.,  an  orderly  brought  word  from  Gen. 


108  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

Lucas,  that  lie  had  met  the  enemy  and  captured  three  or  four 
of  them. 

Col.  Christler  returned,  not  having  found  a  crossing.  After 
causing  the  bridge  to  be  repaired,  so  the  horses  could  pass 
over  safely,  Lucas  moved  forward  at  a  trot,  with  the  First 
Louisiana  and  a  portion  of  the  Second  New  York.  He  met 
the  confederate  forces  at  Cotton  creek,  and  again  at  Canoe 
creek,  but  at  each  place  his  men  pressed  on  with  so  much  vigor 
and  gallantry  that  they  were  not  long  held  in  check.  At 
Cotton  creek  the  Second  Massachusetts  light  battery  opened 
fire,  and  for  a  few  moments  the  combat  seemed  severe.  The 
confederates  lost  a  few  men  in  that  skirmish.  On  the  north 
bank  of  Canoe  creek  the  ground  rose  to  a  height  of  two  hun 
dred  feet,  and  afforded  an  advantageous  position  to  the  con 
federates,  if  it  had  been  advisable  to  make  a  firm  stand.  From 
there  thev  fell  back  to  Pringle's  creek,  distant  about  four  miles. 

COMBAT  OF  PRINGLE'S  CREEK. 

Pringle's  creek  was  a  shallow  stream,  skirted  with  shrubbery. 
Its  north  bank  rose  gradually  fifty  feet,  and  was  covered  with 
a  characteristic  growth  of  pine.  On  the  brow  of  that  crest 
was  a  high  fence  of  split  rails,  and  a  few  hard-wood  trees  with 
heavy  foliage.  After  crossing  the  ford,  the  road  bore  round 
to  the  right,  making  a  gradual  ascent  of  the  hill,  and  was  much 
obscured  by  the  trees.  Three  hundred  yards  above  the  ford 
was  Pritchard's  small  grist-mill,  and  above  that  a  few  acres 
were  covered  with  a  mill-pond.  A  mile  below  there  was  the 
small  village  of  Bluff  Spring. 

Arriving  at  this  creek,  Col.  Ball,  to  save  his  command,  turned 
off  rapidly  toward  Williams'  station,  leaving  a  picket  on  the 
road.  He  did  not  suppose  Clanton's  brigade  would  again 
offer  battle,  and  both  he  and  Col.  Armistead,  who  was  with 
him,  deemed  Pringle's  creek  a  poor  position.  This  left  only 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  109 

Clanton's  brigade  in  tlie  immediate  front  of  Lucas.  The  bri 
gade  consisted  of  two  Alabama  cavalry  regiments,  or  battalions, 
under  command  of  Col.  Leary  and  Maj.  Faulkner,  not  exceed 
ing  five  hundred  men  ;  and  attached  to  it  also  were  two  pieces 
of  artillery,  and  one  hundred  infantry  reserves,  which  remained 
on  the  north  bank  of  the  Escambia.  Gen.  Clanton  had  not  yet 
arrived  from  Pollard,  and  his  brigade  was  under  command  of 
Col.  Leary.  The  latter  made  a  breastwork  of  fence-rails  on 
the  rise  north  of  Pringle's  creek,  and  behind  it  again  formed 
his  men.  Immediately  in  their  rear  was  an  extensive  field, 
wooded  on  both  sides;  and  half  a  mile  back  of  them  their 
horses  were  tied,  in  a  thick  grove  of  hard  wood,  near  some 
old  log  buildings  which  had  been  used  for  soldiers'  quarters. 

A  sharp  engagement  ensued  as  soon  as  Lucas'  advance  came 
up.  The  confederates  were  driven  back  two  hundred  yards 
in  ten  minutes,  and  were  still  failing  back  as  Gen.  Clanton 
galloped  up  and  ordered  a  halt.  At  this  Col.  Leary  seemed 
surprised,  and  told  Clanton  they  were  being  flanked.  Clanton 
replied  :  "  But  we  must  fall  back  in  order."  The  latter  then 
commanded  his  forces  to  dress  up  on  the  colors.  His  brave 
color-bearer,  young  Maynor,  held  the  colors  high,  and  repeated 
the  command,  "Dress  up  on  the  colors."  Fifteen  minutes  after- 
ward  Clanton  fell  severely,  and  it  was  then  thought  mortally, 
wounded.  Immediately  the  buglers  of  the  First  Louisiana 
sounded  the  call  for  the  charge,  and  that  regiment  mounted 
and  led  by  its  commander,  Lieut.-Col.  A.  S.  Badger,  dashed 
forward  in  line  of  battle,  in  a  gallant,  impetuous  manner,  and 
with  a  wild  and  thrilling  cheer.  They  were  met  by  a  volley ; 
and  though  some  of  their  number  fell,  the  fury  of  the  charge 
was  not  checked  ;  and  in  a  few  moments  they  had  swept  over 
and  captured  the  main  part  of  the  confederate  force.  The 
prisoners  consisted  of  Gen.  Clanton,  ten  other  officers,  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty  enlisted  men.  The  killed  and  wounded 


110  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

numbered  about  a  dozen.  A  battle-flag  was  captured  by  Private 
Thomas  Biley.  A  number  of  horses  and  mules  were  also 
captured.  The  loss  of  the  First  Louisiana  was  two  killed— 
First  Lieut.  Albert  Schaffer  and  a  bugler  who  fell  in  the 
charge — and  eight  wounded.  Maj.  J.  E.  Cowan  of  that  regi 
ment  received  a  severe  and  painful  injury  to  his  leg  by  coming 
in  contact  with  a  horse.  In  this  action  the  Second  New  York 
attacked  the  confederates  on  their  flank.  The  remainder  of 
Clanton's  command,  a  few  who  were  mounted,  were  pursued  to 
the  Escambia,  where,  not  knowing  that  the  bridge  was  torn  up 
from  the  centre,  they  leaped  into  the  swollen  and  powerful  stream, 
and  escaped  to  the  opposite  shore  or  were  drowned.  The  others 
fled  into  the  swamps.  Lucas  had  a  running  fight  all  the  way  to 
the  Escambia.  The  two  pieces  of  artillery  and  reserves  from 
the  north  bank  of  that  river  produced  an  effect  greater  than 
their  force  justified ;  such  is  the  moral  power  of  artillery.  They 
were  replied  to  by  four  pieces  of  the  Second  Massachusetts, 
under  Lieut.  Greenleaf,  and  in  an  hour  compelled  to  retire. 

The  Second  division  headquarters,  with  Spiceley's  brigade  of 
that  division,  at  one  o'clock,  had  ascended  the  long  hill  north  of 
Canoe  creek  and  gone  into  camp.  Just  then  a  despatch  from 
Col.  Whittelsey,  chief  pf  staff  to  Gen.  Steele,  was  received 
stating  that  it  would  be  prudent  to  send  forward  a  brigade  and 
some  artillery  to  support  Lucas. 

The  commander  of  the  division  then  with  Spiceley's  brigade 
and  a  section  of  each  of  the  light  batteries  hastened  forward. 
Just  beyond  Pringie's  creek  the  prisoners  were  received  and 
taken  charge  of  by  the  provost  guard  of  the  Second  division. 
The  detachment  arrived  at  the  Escambia  at  four  in  the  after 
noon,  and  only  a  short  time  after  the  cavalry,  having  marched 
seventeen  miles.  The  banks  of  the  Escambia  being  greatly 
overflowed,  and  it  being  essential  to  cross  it,  details  from 
Spiceley's  brigade  set  to  work  constructing  a  foot  bridge  on  the 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  Ill 

railroad  trestle  which  crossed  the  river  a  few  rods  below  the 
destroyed  bridge.  But  before  the  infantry  had  arrived  Lucas 
had  sent  over  two  companies  of  the  Thirty-first  Massachusetts* 
dismounted,  as  pickets. 

The  road  had  required  considerable  labor  in  order  to  bring 
the  train  along,  and  the  remainder  of  the  infantry  that  day  got 
only  to  Cotton  creek.  Near  the  Escambia  the  road  crossed 
marshes  several  hundred  yards  in  extent,  and  much  of  the  way 
covered  with  ponds  of  water.  Through  these  it  was  perilous 
to  ride  and  tedious  to  march  afoot.  The  details  that  worked 
on  the  bridge  had  to  pass  through  such  places.  It  was  with 
much  difficulty  that  the  artillery  was  got  through. 

Information  of  the  fight  at  Pringle's  creek  and  its  result  was 
received  at  Mobile  the  same  day.1 

Entry  of  Pollard. — In  pursuance  of  Gen.  Steele's  orders, 
Spiceley's  brigade  of  the  Second  divison,  marched  for  Pollard 
at  daylight,  the  26th.  It  was  also  accompanied  by  the  division 
commander  and  staff.  Infantry  were  sent,  because  cavalry 
could  not  yet  cross  the  river.  All  went  a-foot ;  and  having 
crossed  over  on  the  railroad  trestle  in  single  file,  descended 
as  best  they  could,  some  fifteen  feet  upon  the  marshy  and 
overflowed  bank.  Thence,  for  some  distance,  the  way  lay 
through  swampy  places,  which  had  to  be  waded.  The  little 
Escambia  was  bridged  in  a  short  time.  On  its  opposite  bank 
some  confederate  scouts  were  seen,  and  two  or  three  shots  were 
fired.  The  road  showed  tracks  of  the  artillery,  which  the  con 
federates  had  used  the  day  before,  and  the  federals  not  yet 
having  any  certain  knowledge  of  what  was  in  Pollard,  thought 


1  Gen.  Lidett  to  Col  Spence:  "March  25. — Geri.  Clanton  was  wounded,  and 
with  Col.  Lary,  Major  Wharton,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  brigade,  were  cap 
tured  to-day  near  "Bluff  Springs.  Col.  Armistead  and  Col.  Ball,  not  with  them 
in  the  fight,  still  safe  and  in  front  of  the  enemy.  That  column  of  the  enemy 
have  a  large  wagon  train  and  are  moving  for  Montgomery." 


112  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

it  possible  they  might  there  meet  with  resistance.  Preparations 
were  accordingly  made  for  such  an  emergency.  But  no  armed 
confederates  could  be  found,  and  the  village  was  peaceably 
taken  possession  of.  It  was  a  small  village,  having,  perhaps, 
twenty  dwellings,  rude  and  much  scattered.  There  were  two 
or  three  wooden  storehouses,  used  by  the  confederates,  but 
there  was  no  property,  save  a  barrel  or  two  of  hard-bread. 
The  public  storehouses,  and  only  those,  were  burned. 

A  thousand  yards  of  railroad  was  torn  up  by  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Indiana,  for  the  moral  effect,  but  the  bridges  were  not 
harmed,  for  it  was  thought  they  would  soon  be  useful  to  the 
federals. 

Spiceley's  brigade,  it  will  be  remembered,  consisted  of  two 
Indiana  regiments — the  Twenty-fourth  and  Sixty-ninth — and 
two  Illinois  regiments — the  Sixty-seventh  and  Seventy-sixth— 
and  it  was  in  fine  condition.  It  had  two  remarkably  good 
brass  bands ;  and  when  the  brigade  marched  away  from  the 
village,  these  bands  struck  up  their  inspiring  strains.  It  ap 
peared  as  if  the  whole  population  of  the  village,  consisting  prin 
cipally  of  women  and  children,  were  following  the  soldiers  away. 
They  walked  along  by  their  side,  talking  with  them  with  the 
utmost  good  humor. 

As  the  brigade  was  leaving  the  place,  some  of  the  cavalry 
foragers  entered,  they  having  effected  a  crossing  of  the  Escain- 
bia  some  distance  above  the  railroad  bridge. 

The  infantry  returned  to  their  camp,  south  of  the  Escambia, 
at  four  in  the  afternoon.  The  Eighty-third  Ohio  had  come  up 
and  crossed  the  Escambia,  to  be  in  readiness  as  a  reserve. 

Spurling's  Operations. — On  the  morning  of  the  19th,  Lieut.  - 
Col.  A.  B.  Spurling,  Second  Maine  cavalry,  began  to  move  from 
Barrancas  on  transports,  with  a  force  of  eight  hundred  mounted 
men,  with  instructions  to  cut  the  railroad  above  Pollard.  He 
had  an  experienced  and  excellent  command,  consisting  of  the 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  113 

mounted  force  of  the  three  following  regiments  :  the  Socoud 
Maine,  Major  C.  A.  Miller ;  the  Second  Illinois,  Major  Frank 
Moore  ;  the  First  Florida,  Capt.  Francis  Lyons.  Two  compa 
nies  under  Capt.  E.  D>  Johnson,  Second  Maine  cavalry,  were 
landed  at  Milton,  and  moved  out  toward  Pollard,  to  drive  away 
any  confederate  scouts  that  might  be  there,  and  to  create  the 
impression  that  the  whole  force  would  land  there.  By  three, 
A.  M.,  of  the  20th,  Spurling  had  landed  his  force  on  the  east 
shore  of  the  Blackwater,  three  miles  below,  and  opposite  Milton, 
and  marched  for  the  railroad,  via  Andalusia.  Confederate 
scouts  were  frequently  met,  and  few  escaped  capture.  The 
night  of  the  23d,  from  eleven  to  one  o'clock,  the  column  halted 
to  rest,  a  few  miles  out  from  Evergreen. 

Capture  of  a  Staff  Officer. — Soon  after  the  column  halted,  Col. 
Spurling  rode  forward  to  his  advance,  and  had  scarcely  arrived 
there  when  he  heard  talking  in  front.  Dismounting  quickly,  he 
cautioned  the  men  to  be  on  the  alert.  He  then  stepped  forward 
a  few  paces,  and  satisfied  himself  there  were  men  approaching. 
Then  he  crouched  down  beside  the  fence,  to  let  them  pass. 
There  were  three ;  and  as  soon  as  they  had  got  by,  Spurling 
jumped  in  their  rear  and  commanded  them  to  surrender.  They 
demanded  to  know  who  he  was.  Spurling  replied,  "  I  am  a  live 
Yankee."  At  that,  the  confederates  raised  their  rifles  on  him, 
and  Spurling  as  quickly  commenced  firing  on  them  with  a  re 
volver,  wounding  two  and  capturing  the  three.  They  proved  to 
to  be  Lieut.  Watts,  of  Gen.  Clanton's  staff,  and  two  scouts.  By 
this,  Spurling  prevented  alarm  being  given  of  his  approach,  and 
at  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  24th  he  cut  the  rail 
road  seven  miles  above  Evergreen,  and  captured  an  up  and  a 
down  train  of  cars,  one  train  being  loaded  with  confederate 
troops,  whom  he  took  prisoners.  Having  destroyed  consider 
able  railroad  'track  and  rolling  stock,  he  came  down,  via  Sparta, 
bringing  his  prisoners  mounted  on  captured  horses.  At  Sparta, 

8 


114  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

he  burned  six  more  cars,  and  the  depot  containing  public  stores, 
which  had  been  sent  from  Pollard  for  safe  keeping.  The  morning 
of  the  26th,  attempting  to  cioss  the  bridge  over  Murder  creek,  it 
was  found  to  be  partly  destroyed,  and  a  small  confederate  force 
was  posted  on  the  opposite  side,  behind  a  strong  barricade  of 
Logs  ;  but  it  was  dislodged  and  driven  off  by  a  detachment  of 
the  Second  Illinois  and  Second  Maine  dismounted.  Lieut. 
Vose  and  one  man  of  the  Second  Maine  cavalry  were  wounded. 
The  bridge  was  then  repaired  and  crossed.  Col.  Spurling's 
command  arrived  at  Pollard  on  the  26th,  only  a  short  time  after 
Spiceley's  brigade  had  left,  and  joined  Steele's  column  the 
morning  of  the  27th,  he  having  accomplished  the  object  of  his 
expedition  in  a  brilliant  manner,  and  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 

Steele  turns  toward  Blaltely. — The  evening  of  the  26th,  Steele 
called  his  division  commanders  together,  and  notified  them  the 
column  would  turn  the  next  morning  to  join  Canby.  There 
were  now  but  four  days'  rations  on  hand,  and  the  country  was 
remarkably  destitute.  It  was  but  little  else  than  a  wilderness, 
The  men  were  therefore  put  on  half-rations.  They  having  been 
exposed  to  wet  weather  and  heavy  fatigue  the  five  days'  rations 
they  carried  had  not  lasted  the  full  time,  as  to  all  the  men.  But 
there  were  some  who  had  been  saving,  and  were  still  fairly  pro 
vided.  A  large  number  were  without  anything,  and  were 
expecting  a  new  issue  wThen  they  received  orders  to  go  on  half- 
rations. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  27th,  the  column  turned  and 
inarched  westerly,  toward  Canoe  station,  on  the  Mobile  and 
Montgomery  railroad.  Unfortunately,  the  route  had  not  been 
previously  examined  and  repaired.  The  cavalry  moved  out  first, 
followed  by  Hawkins'  division  ;  but  in  attempting  to  get  the 
wagons  along,  it  was  found,  that  the  first  two  miles  of  the  road 
needed  to  be  corduroyed.  This  prevented  the  rear  of  the 
Second  division  from  starting  till  noon.  The  prisoners  being 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  115 

in  charge  of  that  division,  those  of  them  who  were  wounded 
were  carried  carefully  on  stretchers  to  the  neighboring  houses. 
Gen.  Clanton  was  thus  carried,  for  a  ball  had  passed  quite 
through  his  body,  and  he  was  supposed  to  be  mortally  wounded. 
But  he  recovered. 

Spurring' s  prisoners,  upward  of  a  hundred,  were  turned  over 
to  Capt.  Garretson,  provost  marshal  of  the  Second  division. 
Spuiiing's  men  had  supplied  themselves  plentifully  with  tobacco, 
which  they  distributed  generously  among  the  other  troops. 

The  confederates  appear  to  have  restored  their  telegraph 
communication  on  the  Montgomery  road  in  four  days  after  it 
was  cut. 

Col.  Hall,  after  leaving  Pringle's  creek,  passed  round  thirty 
miles  up  to  Hollins'  bridge,  and  the  next  night  (Sunday,  the 
26th)  swam  the  Escambia,  then  proceeded  to  Bellville,  and 
thence  to  Evergreen.  Col.  Arrnistead  remained  at  Bellville,  and 
from  there,  on  the  30th,  telegraphed  Gen.  Lidell  of  the  occupa 
tion  of  Pollard  by  the  federals  on  the  26th,  and  Canoe  station 
the  27th.1 

The  distance  to  Canoe  station,  on  the  route  the  column 
moved,  was  thirteen  miles.  After  passing  the  bad  road  near 
the  Escambia,  the  country  was  hilly,  and  it  seemed  that  there 
would  be  but  slight  trouble  in  getting  the  wagons  along.  But 
the  rain  commencad  falling  soon  after  noon,  dissolving  the 
earth's  treacherous  surface.  The  main  part  of  the  column 
reached  Canoe  station  in  good  season.  But  Spicsley's  brigade 
with  the  train  of  the  Second  division  had  to  bivouac  near 
Miles',  four  miles  from  Canoe  station.  The  artillery  got  a  little 
farther.  The  night  was  intensely  dark,  the  rain  was  coming 
down  in  torrents.  The  prospect  was  dismal. 

1  Lidell  to  Maury :  "March  31. — Col.  Armistead  telegraphs  from  Bellville 
via  Greenville,  30th,  that  the  enemy  were  in  force  at  Pollard  Sunday  morning, 
and  reported  to  have  occupied  Canoe  station  Monday.  He  heard  the  enemy 
would  turn  toward  Tensas  and  Blakely." 


116  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

The  28th,  the  weather  was  pleasant  overhead.  The  Second 
division  worked  from  daylight  till  eleven,  A.  M.,  anl  corduroyed 
the  road  nearly  the  whole  way  from  Miles'  to  Canoe  station — 
four  miles — in  order  to  get  up  the  train  and  artillery.  Tht 
cavalry  and  Hawkins'  division  had  moved  on.  The  Second 
division  train  was  all  up  to  Canoe  station  by  one  o'clock.  A 
rest  was  then  taken  of  two  hours.  Rations  were  then  issued  for 
five  thousand  one  hundred  and  seventy-nine  men,  the  number  of 
enlisted  men  of  the  two  brigades  present,  and  for  two  hundred 
and  thirty-six  prisoners.  At  three,  P.  M.,  the  march  was  re 
sumed  in  a  northwesterly  direction.  The  troops  moved  out  in 
good  spirits  and  handsome  style,  the  music  playing.  Five  miles 
were  made  by  dusk,  when  they  again  went  into  camp  on  an 
abandoned  plantation.  Gen.  Steele  with  the  rest  of  the  column 
camped  about  five  miles  beyond. 

The  march  was  resumed  at  daylight,  the  29th,  by  the  Second 
division ;  but  the  roads  were  bad,  and  had  to  be  corduroyed 
much  of  the  way.  The  camp  of  Hawkins'  division  was  passed  at 
eleven  o'clock.  From  there  to  the  Perdido  was  three  miles,  and, 
heavy  rain  falling  in  the  afternoon,  that  distance  also  had  to  be 
corduroyed.  At  dusk  the  column  camped  near  the  Perdido. 
The  cavalry  moved  on  to  Weatherford's  plantation. 

For  the  past  three  days  cannonading  had  been  heard  in  the 
direction  of  Spanish  fort;  and  there  was  a  rumor  that  the 
federals  had  assaulted  and  been  repulsed — badly  repulsed,  of 
course,  for  the  rumors  of  the  camp  are  seldom  moderate. 

Gen.  Steele  having  sent  some  scouts  with  despatches  to  Gen. 
Canby,  they  were  observed  by  the  confederates  at  Bay  Minette 
station. l 


1  Lid-ell  la  Hollzdaw,  "commanding  advance:"  "  March  29.  .'....  Capt. 
Winston  has  just  reported  the  advance  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  between 
Sfty  and  one  hundred  cavalry,  was  at  Bay  Minette  station  this  afternoon,  at 
three  o'clock." 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  117 

The  morning  of  the  30th  was  raw  and  windy,  and  the  sol 
diers  were  seen  in  thick  circles  around  the  camp-fires.  The 
colored  division  moved  out  first,  and  was  followed  by  the 
Second  at  nine  o'clock.  The  Perdido,  where  forded,  was  two 
feet  deep,  and  some  trees  were  felled,  on  which  the  soldiers 
crossed.  To  get  the  artillery  along,  the  Second  division  made 
two  miles  more  of  corduroy,  and  made  it  promptly.  Consider 
able  work  had  to  be  done  also  on  the  road  near  McGills. 
Then  the  division  marched  two  miles  farther,  making  nine  from 
the  Perdido,  and,  at  dusk,  went  into  camp  in  the  woods,  on 
high  ground,  just  beyond  a  clear  stream.  The  cavalry  and 
Hawkins'  division  had  got  a  few  miles  beyond.  Toward 
evening,  the  foragers,  who  had  been  to  Montgomery  Hill, 
brought  in  some  beef  cattle  and  sheep,  which  were  greatly 
needed.  The  troops  were  on  third  rations,  and  the  majority 
were  suffering  with  hunger.  The  labor  and  exposure  were 
enough  to  reduce  men  who  were  well  fed.  As  it  was,  the 
effects  of  the  hardships  of  the  march,  and  the  scanty  fare, 
could  be  discerned,  day  by  day,  in  the  reduced  flesh  of  the  sol 
diers.  There  was,  perhaps,  a  day's  ration  still  in  the  train. 
It  was  singular  to  perceive  so  much  difference  in  the  economy 
and  husbandry  of  men.  While  some  would  be  living  on 
parched  corn,  a  few  would  have  haversacks  still  plump,  and 
well  furnished  with  bacon  and  hard  bread,  coffee  and  sugar.1 

At  daylight  on  the  31st,  the  Second  division  resumed  the 
march,  making  Stockton,  nineteen  miles,  by  two  o'clock.  The 
whole  column  arrived  there  about  that  time.  For  a  few  miles 
before  reaching  Stockton  the  country  was  more  settled  and 

1  "  Tired,  wet,  muddy,  and  hungry.  Our  supper  consisted  to-night  of  sassa 
fras  tea  and  parched  corn,  which  we  had  picked  up  from  the  ground  where 
our  cavalry  had  fed." — Diary  of  a  Private  Soldier,  March  30. 

"  Rations  very  scarce,  and  forage  also.  The  prisoners  are  very  hungry,  but 
say  we  are  doing  the  best  we  can  with  them." — Diary  of  another  Enlisted  Man, 
March  31. 


118  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

fortile ;  and  though  hilly,  the  road  was  fair.  It  was  indeed  a 
luxury  to  come  out  upon  a  road  that  did  not  need  corduroying. 
The  ration  question  began  there  to  assume  a  pleasanter  shape.1 
There  was  plenty  of  fresh  meat.  Considerable  corn  was  also 
found,  and  a  grist-mill  there  was  kept  running  while  the  troops 
remained. 

The  troops  having  supplied  themselves  with  corn  from  the 
neighboring  plantations,  the  march  was  resumed  the  forenoon 
of  April  1.  The  Second  division  was  in  the  rear,  and  its  last 
files  left  Stockton  at  noon.  The  road  being  hard,  though  hilly, 
Steele  with  the  cavalry  and  Hawkins  division  pushed  on  to 
within  two  miles  of  Blakely.  A  regiment  of  Pile's  brigade  was 
detached  to  guard  the  Holly  oak  bridge,  but  returned  the  next 
day. 

Capture  of  an  Outpost. — Lieut. -Col.  Spurling  still  retaining 
his  command,  was  sent  forward  from  Stockton  in  advance  to 
open  communication  with  Gen.  Canby,  Arriving  within  six 
miles  of  Blakely  he  encountered  confederate  scouts,  several  of 
whom  he  captured,  and  pursued  the  remainder  closely  two 
miles,  when  he  came  upon  a  stronger  force,  consisting  of  the 
Forty-ninth  Mississippi,  near  Wilkins'  plantation,  posted  behind 
a  barricade  of  fence-rails  three  tier  deep.  Spurling  then  caused 
the  Second  Maine  to  dismount  to  attack  011  foot,  leaving  the 
First  Florida  as  a  reserve  and  as  a  guard  for  the  horses.  He 
then  disposed  the  Second  Illinois  with  sabres  drawn  in  rear 
of  the  Second  Maine,  who  were  already  skirmishing  briskly, 
and  steadily  advancing.  The  confederates  observed  the  bullets 
of  the  Second  Maine  to  rattle  faster  and  harder  on  their  rail 
barricade,  and  discerning  the  glittering  sabres  of  the  Second  Illi 
nois  farther  back  they  soon  gave  way.  Then  Spurling  ordered 

1  "  Marched  nineteen  miles  to-day.  Have  no  bread  or  coffee,  but  plenty  of 
pork,  beef,  and  mutton.  Drew  one  cracker  a  piece  to-night." — Diary  of  a 
Private  Soldier,  March  31 . 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  119 

the  Second  Illinois  to  charge,  which  it  did  in  gallant  style,  and 
captured  the  main  part  of  the  outpost  before  it  could  rally 
behind  its  second  line  of  works.  The  Second  Maine  followed 
as  soon  as  it  could  mount.  About  one  hundred  of  the  Forty- 
ninth  Mississippi  were  captured,  with  its  colors  and  arms. 
Spurling's  loss  was  one  killed  and  three  wounded. 

About  the  same  time  the  confederate  outpost  at  O.  Sibley's 
was  withdrawn  and  the  bridge  set  on  fire.1  Lucas,  having 
learned  the  locality  of  the  bridge,  by  permission,  sent  the 
Second  Illinois  cavalry,  under  Lieut.-Col.  Moore,  to  hold  it, 
and  the  latter  arrived  in  season  to  save  it.  Lucas'  cavalry  also 
reconnoitered  the  position  of  Blakely  and  drew  the  fire  of  its 
artillery.  One  of  the  cavalry-men  was  killed  within  a  thousand 
yards  of  the  principal  redoubt  on  the  Stockton  road ;  and  was 
afterward  buried  by  men  of  the  Second  division.  The  cavalry 
also  charged  on  an  outpost  on  Saluda  hill,  and  the  confederates 
having  rallied  a  skirmish  ensued  in  which  there  were  one  or 
two  killed  and  wounded  on  both  sides.  During  the  day  the 
cavalry  lost  a  few  men  and  horses  by  the  explosion  of  torpedoes, 

Here,  then,  before  Blakely,  moving  with  rapid  and  defiant 
step,  was  the  column  which,  a  few  days  before,  was  supposed 
to  be  inextricably  stuck  in .  the  Florida  swamps.  It  is  not 


1  Copt,  Lewis  to  the  colonel  commanding  infantry  at  Sibley's  house :  "March 
31. — The  enemy  is  about  fifteen  miles  distant  near  the  railroad  above*  us, 
and  will  probably  advance  to-morrow  morning  ;  in  view  of  which  Gen.  Lidell 
directs  that  you  withdraw  your  advance  pickets  to-night  from  front  of  the 
enemy  to  Sibley's  creek  where  you  now  are.  You  will  direct  the  officer  in 
charge  of  the  squad  with  sub-terra  shells  to  plant  them  at  once,  except  in  the 
road,  where  they  will  not  be  placed  until  the  last  moment,  leaving  a  '  vidette ' 
in  the  road,  to  inform  any  of  our  men  coming  in  of  the  necessity  of  keeping  in 
the  middle  of  the  road.  It  is  necessary  for  you  to  concentrate  your  command 
in  order  to  be  ready  to  move  to  the  works — with  the  artillery — or  resist  the 
enemy  where  you  are  should  he  come  in  your  front  and  not  from  above. 
You  will  also  burn  the  Sibley  bridge  should  he  be  able  to  drive  you  from  the 
creek." 


120  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

strange  that  the  commanding  general  at  Blakely  apprehended 
an  assault.1 

From  Stockton  to  the  railroad,  crossing  at  Hall's,  the  distance 
is  fourteen  miles.  The  Second  division  reached  that  place  just 
before  dark,  and  received  orders,  which  had  been  left  by  Gen. 
Steele,  to  destroy  the  railroad.  Spiceley's  brigade  having  got  in 
first,  the  Twenty-fourth  Indiana  was  set  to  that  duty,  and 
effectively  destroyed  four  hundred  yards  of  track  in  an  hour. 

Veatclis  Movement  with  Supplies. — On  the  31st  of  March,  Gen. 
Canby  started  a  train  of  seventy-five  wagons  of  supplies  to 
Steele.  The  train  was  in  charge  of  Yeatch's  division,  which 
moved  out  from  near  Spanish  fort  at  eight  in  the  morning, 
arriving  at  Hollyoak  at  noon,  where  it  intrenched.  The  next 
day,  April  1,  a  detachment  of  one  hundred  of  the  Fourth  Ten 
nessee  cavalry,  under  Lieut.-Col.  Thornbury,  reported  to  Veatch, 
and  Maj.  McEntee,  Steele's  chief  quartermaster,  also  came  up 
from  Canby's  headquarters.  Veatch  marched  again  at  three, 
p.  M.  At  six,  P.  M.,  he  heard  firing  toward  Blakely.  The  column 
halted,  and  a  squadron  of  cavalry,  supported  by  two  regiments 
of  infantry  and  a  section  of  artillery,  marched  three  miles 
farther  toward  Blakely,  when,  everything  becoming  quiet,  and 
it  being  very  dark,  they  returned  to  the  division-camp.  The 
supplies  were  got  to  Steele  the  next  night. 


1  Lidell  to  Maury :  "April  1. — In  view  of  the  fact  that  Steele  with  his 
negroes  may  assault  our  works  please  send  me  one  hundred  and  fifty  small 
arms  to  place  in  the  hands  of  all  surplus  artillerists." 


CHAPTER  XY. 

INVESTMENT   AND   SIEGE   OF   BLAKELY. 

BLAKELY  is  situated  ten  miles  northeast  from  Mobile,  on  the 
east  bank  of  the  Appalachee  river,  and  opposite  its  confluence 
with  the  Tensas.  The  extent  and  depth  of  its  adjacent  waters 
make  it  a  fine  natural  port.  On  the  old  maps  it  appears  as  a 
place  of  importance,  and  forty  years  ago  it  had  a  population  of 
three  thousand ;  but  the  landowners  held  their  property  at  such 
high  prices  its  growth  was  checked,  and  the  people  soon  took 
down  their  buildings  and  moved  with  them  to  Mobile.  At  the 
time  of  the  war,  Blakely,  although  a  county-seat,  had  a  popula 
tion  not  exceeding  a  hundred.  Its  front  of  dry  ground,  on  the 
river,  is  a  mile  and  a  half  in  extent,  and  this  character  of  soil 
widens  on  going  from  the  river ;  but  on  each  side  of  it  is  low,, 
swampy  ground,  densely  covered  with  hard- wood  timber  and  a 
rank  growth  of  weeds  and  vines.  The  soil  is  sandy.  Near  the 
river  are  several  large  and  ancient  live-oaks  bountifully  festooned 
with  moss.  Approaching  the  place  from  the  river,  it  seems  nearly 
covered  with  a  growth  of  natural  forest,  yet  some  old  and  culti 
vated  openings  can  be  seen.  Five  hundred  yards  above  the 
landing  is  a  brick-yard,  and  near  that  a  spur  of  ground  fifty  feet 
higher  than  the  water  approaches  to  the  river,  upon  which  a  small 
stockade  fort  was  first  built.  Then  some  half  a  mile  from  that, 
on  a  plateau  of  equal  elevation,  was  an  incomplete  bastion-fort, 
of  red  earth.  Two  hundred  yards  from  the  landing,  almost 
secluded  by  the  drooping  branches  of  live-oaks,  is  the  court 
house — a  small  two-story  brick  building,  painted  white,  and 


122  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

having  in  its  basement  a  room  answering  the  purpose  of  a  jail. 
In  sight,  also,  are  four  or  five  old  wooden  buildings.  From 
the  vicinity  of  the  landing  two  principal  roads  diverge,  one 
bearing  northeast  to  Stockton,  the  other  southeast  to  Pensa- 
cola.  For  a  mile  they  run  about  parallel.  They  are  both 
gravelly  roads,  much  worn  and  washed.  Pursuing  the  Stock 
ton  road,  it  was  one  mile  from  the  landing  to  the  line  of  con 
federate  fortifications. 

The  Pensacola  road  winds  around  on  high  ground.  On  this 
road  were  the  ruins  of  some  cottages  and  a  variety  of  shrub 
bery  and  evergreens. 

For  a  mile  back  from  the  landing  the  ground  has  a  general 
rise  till  it  reaches  the  line  of  breastworks,  where  it  is  about 
sixty  feet  above  the  water  level.  The  surface  is  uneven,  and 
there  are  many  dells  thickly  wooded  with  magnolias,  beeches, 
pines,  and  other  trees,  and  abounding  with  clear  springs  and 
streams.  These  are  its  attractive  features. 

The  fortifications  were  constructed  in  a  sort  of  semicircle 
around  Blakely  ;  resting  on  a  bluff  close  to  the  river,  at  the 
extreme  left,  and  terminating  with  the  high  ground,  a  few  rods 
from  the  river,  on  the  right.  The  line  was  nearly  three  miles 
in  length,  and  included  nine  well-built  redoubts — or  lunettes. 
The  fortifications  were  thoroughly  built,  and  were  armed  with 
about  forty  pieces  of  artillery.  But  the  ditches  were  not  more 
than  four  or  five  feet  deep.  From  six  to  eight  hundred  yards 
all  along  the  front  the  trees  had  been  felled — pines  on  the 
high  ground  and  hard-wood  trees  in  the  ravines.  Fifty  yards 
•out  from  the  works  was  a  line  of  abatis,  and  opposite  some 
of  the  redoubts  was  an  interior  line.  Then  three  hundred 
yards  out  to  the  front,  parallel  with  the  works,  was  another 
line  of  abatis,  and  behind  the  latter  were  detached  rifle-pits. 

The  garrison  of  Blakely  consisted  of  French's  division — then 
•  commanded  by  Gen.  Cockrell — as  the  left  wing,  its  right  extend- 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  123 

ing  a  little  below  the  redoubt  south  of  the  Stockton  road.  Tho 
troops  of  that  division  were  veterans,  mostly  from  Missouri  and 
Mississippi.  The  right  wing  consisted  of  Gen.  Thomas'  di 
vision  of  Alabama  reserves.  There  were  several  artillery  com 
panies  to  man  the  guns.  The  whole  garrison  numbered  about 
three  thousand  five  hundred,  and  was  under  the  command  of 
Gen.  St.  John  Lidell. 

On  the  1st  of  April,  Lidell  instructed  Cockrell  to  make  a  dash 
on  Steele,  if  he  deemed  it  advisable,  and  cautioned  him,  if  he 
did  so,  to  use  "  a  small  but  reliable  force."  Cockrell  was  also 
directed  to  fill  the  skirmish  pits  on  the  entire  line  with  men 
from  his  division,  for  the  reason,  as  it  appears,  they  were  con 
sidered  more  experienced  and  reliable  than  the  reserves.  But, 
after  consultation  with  Cockrell,  this  plan  was  abandoned,  and 
Thomas  was  instructed  to  supply  the  advance  pits  in  his  front 
with  his  own  men. 

INVESTMENT  OF  BLAKELY. 

The  bivouac  of  the  colored  division  was  in  plain  hearing  of 
the  guns  at  Spanish  fort,  but  to  the  most  of  those  men  the 
sound  of  artillery  was  not  new.  The  men  had  lain  down,  each 
with  his  gun  beside  him,  the  night  of  the  1st,  in  a  sober  mood, 
and  rose  the  next  morning  in  similar  spirits,  for  they  were  yet 
on  slender  rations  of  parched  corn.  Heavy  firing  on  the  picket 
line  brought  them  into  line  of  battle,  early  on  Sunday  morning, 
the  2d.  But  before  they  had  moved  out,  the  quartermaster's 
wagons  went  round  with  corn,  and  two  ears  and  a  "  nubbin" 
were  dealt  out  to  each  man  as  rations,  producing  much  mer 
riment. 

Drew's  brigade  was  in  the  advance,  and  the  picket  from  the 
Sixty-eighth  regiment,  under  Lieut.  Taisey,  was  down  on  the 
Stockton  road.  "When  morning  broke,  the  lieutenant  could  see 
nothing  of  confederates  in  his  front,  and,  after  consulting  the 


124  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

officer  of  the  cavalry  detachment  with  him,  they  concluded  to 
venture  out  for  a  reconnoissanco.  They  proceeded  without  in 
terruption  for  some  distance,  and  began  to  think  they  would  find 
the  way  unimpeded  into  Blakely,  when  suddenly,  from  a  clump 
of  trees  near  the  edge  of  the  slashings,  they  were  met  with  a 
handsome  volley.  The  firing  soon  grew  brisk,  and  the  confede 
rate  artillery  caused  them  to  fall  back. 

Then  Hawkins  moved  his  division  out  to  close  in  on  Blakely, 
inarching  obliquely  to  the  right  from  the  Stockton  road,  through 
a  pine  forest,  with  skirmishers  deployed.  The  troops  felt  that 
they  would  encounter  a  veteran  foe  in  his  intrenchments,  but 
that  reflection  neither  lessened  the  firmness  of  their  step,  nor 
the  ardor  of  their  resolution.  Not  a  man  lagged,  but  with  eager 
strides  to  the  front,  they  kept  the  horses  of  the  mounted  officers 
on  the  trot.  In  the  midst  of  shot,  shell,  and  bullets,  they  had  to 
cross  an  abrupt,  deep,  broken  ravine,  made  doubly  difficult,  by  a 
dense  tangle  of  undergrowth.  The  regimental  commanders 
feared  that  they  would  come  out  of  it  a  confused  throng.  The 
company  officers  emerged,  took  their  respective  distances,  still 
moving  forward,  and  the  line  quickly  filled  up,  and  swept  along 
as  eagerly  and  collectedly  as  if  no  obstruction  had  been  met. 

The  first  earnest  resistance  encountered  was  about  a  mile  and 
a  quarter  in  front  of  the  confederate  left,  at  a  stream  which  runs 
northwest,  through  a  deep  and  narrow  ravine,  and  near  where 
it  debouches  into  a  wooded  swamp.  The  skirmish  line  then 
consisted  of  six  companies  from  each  of  the  three  brigades. 
Col.  J.  B.  Jones  of  the  Sixtv-eighth  regiment,  was  put  in  charge 
of  it,  and  the  main  line  halted.  A  severely-contested  skirmish 
combat  then  took  place  on  ground  which  became  the  extreme 
right  of  the  Federal  line  of  investment.  The  confederates  hung 
along  the  brow  and  slopes  of  the  bluff  bordering  on  the  swamp, 
and  Col.  Jones  found  it  no  easy  matter  to  dislodge  them.  They 
were  using  their  artillery  vigorously  from  the  redoubts,  and  a 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  125 

number  of  the  colored  division  had  fallen.  Three  more  com 
panies  from  each  brigade  were  sent  to  reinforce  the  skirmish 
line  so  that  it  finally  comprised  twenty-seven  companies.  In 
course  of  three  hours  the  confederates  were  driven  back  about 
eight  hundred  yards.  Col.  Jones  established  his  line  in  the 
slashings  within  one  hundred  and  twenty  yards  of  the  confede 
rates'  outer  rifle-pits  ;  and  it  remained  as  the  skirmish  line  on 
the  right  during  the  siege.  Hawkins'  loss  was  about  forty  killed 
and  wounded.  Among  the  mortally  wounded  was  Lieut.  Ed 
ward  E.  Talbot,  a  gallant  young  officer  belonging  to  the  Sixty- 
eighth.  In  the  Forty-eighth,  four  were  killed  and  four  wounded, 
including  in  the  latter,  Col.  Crandall,  struck  by  a  shell.  The 
major  of  the  Ninety-seventh  was  shot  in  the  foot.  Col.  Jones 
was  conspicuous  along  the  line  for  bravery  and  had  two  horses 
shot  under  him. 

At  half-past  eight  o'clock,  Lidell  telegraphed  to  Maury  at 
Mobile,  that  he  thought  the  Federals  were  preparing  for  an 
assault,  and  that  skirmishing  was  then  occurring.  He  also  asked 
for  additional  artillery.1 

The  Second  division  marched  from  Hall's  soon  after  day 
light,  and  were  some  distance  on  the  road  before  sunrise.  As 
the  soldiers  ascended  the  high  ground  and  looked  off  to  the 
left,  over  the  wooded  dells,  they  could  see  through  the  hazy 
atmosphere  that  the  eastern  sky  was  still  crimson.  It.  was 
not  long  before  firing  was  heard  at  the  front.  This  hastened 
their  pace,  and  they  arrived  before  Blakely  at  ten  o'clock. 

Steele,  Hawkins,  Lucas,  and  several  other  officers,  were  sit 
ting  upon  logs,  by  the  Stockton  road  where  it  is  crossed  by 


1  Gen.  Lidell  to  Gen.  Maury  :  "  Blakely,  April  2,  8:30  A.  M.— "The  enemy 
camped  apparently  in  large  force,  one  mile  above  us,  last  night,  on  the  Stockton 
road,  and  is  now  engaged  skirmishing  on  the  left  flank,  preparing,  I  think,  for 
an  assault  or  demonstration  in  force.  I  need  additional  artillery,  temporarily, 
if  it  can  be  spared." 


126  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

the  road  from  Sibley's,  and  about  a  mile  from  the  Blakely 
breastworks ;  and  were  discussing  the  information  that  had 
been  brought  from  the  front.  The  firing  in  Hawkins'  front 
had  abated  somewhat,  yet  still  continued. 

It  had  been  Steele's  intention  to  first  strike  Holly  oak,  and 
wait  orders.  But  the  want  of  forage  compelled  him  to  go  by 
the  way  of  Stockton,  which  brought  him  close  to  Blakely. 
He  therefore  immediately  wrote  Canby  what  had  already 
been  accomplished  before  Blakely ;  and  he  was  soon  after 
ward  instructed  to  continue  the  investment. 

Hawkins'  left  then  extended  within  two  hundred  yards  of 
the  Stockton  road,  but  he  had  a  strong  picket  in  the  bushes 
close  to  the  road.  The  Second  division  was  ordered  to  form 
on  the  left  of  Hawkins'  division.  It  had  been  formed  in  the 
following  order  :  The  Third  (Moore's)  brigade  in  line  of  battle, 
it  being  in  the  advance ;  and  the  Second  (Spiceley's)  in  the 
rear,  in  the  shade — for  the  rays  of  the  sun  were  beating  down 
oppressively — in  column  of  division  closed  in  mass.  The  Sec 
ond  Connecticut  light  battery  was  in  position  on  the  left  of 
the  Stockton  road,  and  the  Fifteenth  Massachusetts  on  the 
right.  All  the  men  in  the  division  were  resting.  Then  before 
advancing  any  of  the  troops  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
division,  with  some  other  officers,  went  to  the  front  to  recon 
noitre.  They  bore  off  to  the  left  of  the  Stockton  road  in  the 
woods,  and  got  within  eight  hundred  yards  of  the  main  con 
federate  works,  and  where  they  could  well  survey  the  position. 
It  was  also  seen  that  confederate  sharpshooters  wrere  numer 
ously  stationed  in  advanced  rifle-pits.  The  party  got  within 
two  hundred  yards  of  some  of  these,  but  by  cover  of  the  trees, 
and  quick  dodging,  they  escaped  being  hit.  Returning  to  the 
line,  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Ohio,  under  Col.  Kelly, 
and  the  Twentieth  Iowa,  under  Lieut.-Col.  Leake,  were  ad 
vanced  as  skirmishers,  and  moved  up  on  a  line  with  the  division 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  127 

on  the  right.  The  ground  they  passed  over  sloped  a  little 
toward  Blakerj.  It  was  covered  with  a  thin  and  small  growth 
of  pines  where  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Ohio  passed, 
but  where  the  Twentieth  Iowa  passed  the  timber  was  heavier. 
The  movement  could  not  be  entirely  concealed ;  and  the  con 
federates  opened  a  warm  fire  of  artillery,  but  it  occasioned  no 
loss  to  either  regiment.  The  skirmishers  of  that  regiment  be 
came  engaged,  and  compelled  the  advanced  line  of  confederates 
to  take  shelter  in  their  regular  line  of  rifle-pits. 

About  noon,  Maj.-Gen.  Osterhaus,  chief  of  staff  to  Gen. 
Canby,  came  up  from  Spanish  fort,  to  take  a  view  of  the 
position. 

Later  in  the  day,  the  Second  division  was  directed  to  com 
plete  the  line  of  investment  to  Bay  Minette,  a  distance  of  two 
miles.  Moore's  brigade  then  took  position  on  the  left.  The 
Twentieth  Iowa  and  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Ohio  were 
withdrawn  at  five,  P.  M.,  and  the  line  occupied  by  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Indiana,  Lieut.-Col.  Sears,  in  front  of  Spiceley's  brigade, 
and  the  Thirty-fourth  Iowa,  Col.  G.  W.  Clark,  in  front  of 
Moore's  brigade.  These  were  large  regiments — the  Thirty- 
fourth  numbering  seven  hundred  and  forty-seven  effective,  and 
the  Twenty -fourth  numbering  seven  hundred  and  twenty-nine 
effective.  Their  deployed  line,  during  the  night,  occupied  about 
two  miles.  "While  the  Thirty-fourth  Iowa  was  taking  position, 
one  of  its  men — Josiah  Robinson. — was  severely  wounded  in  the 
face  by  a  musket-ball,  which  shattered  both  of  his  jaws  and 
tore  out  nearly  all  of  his  teeth.  During  the  evening,  John 
Hudson,  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Indiana,  was  killed. 

The  confederate  commander  observing  troops  moving  south 
of  the  Stockton  road,  and  even  below  the  Pensacola  road,  was 
still  more  apprehensive  of  an  assault.1 

1  Lidell  to  Maury:  "April  2. — I  believe  the  enemy  are  preparing  to  assault 
my  line  to-day.  Please  spare  me  some  light  artillery  temporarily,  and,  if  pos 
sible,  send  it  over  immediately." 


128  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

The  same  afternoon  the  ground  was  further  reconnoitred  by 
officers  of  the  Second  division,  and  also  by  Gen.  Comstock, 
chief  engineer  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Canby,  who  had  come  up 
from  Spanish  fort  for  that  purpose. 

That  night  both  divisions  commenced  intrenching  one  thou 
sand  yards  from  the  confederate  works,  but  the  spades  were 
few  for  so  long  a  line,  and  the  progress  was  slow.  At  ten 
o'clock,  the  commanding  officer  of  the  Second  division  and  Col. 
Spiceley  were  both  on  the  skirmish  line  of  the  latter's  brigade, 
and  moved  the  skirmishers  farther  to  the  front,  and  pointed 
out  where  the  pits  should  be  dug.  The  musketry-firing  seemed 
to  be  at  close  range.  It  was  quite  dark.  There  was  a  vehe 
ment  fire  of  artillery,  searching  the  Stockton  road  and  the 
ravine  running  parallel  with,  and  a  short  distance  south,  of  it. 
The  frequent  explosions  of  shells,  like  the  flashes  of  lightning 
in  a  severe  storm,  tended  to  blind  and  bewilder  one,  if  they  did 
nothing  worse.  The  confederate  artillerists  had  been  specially 
instructed  to  maintain  such  a  fire  as  would  compel  the  federals 
to  commence  their  intrenchments  a  considerable  distance  off. 
Their  gunboats,  on  their  left,  also  threw  shells  of  large  calibre. 

At  eleven  o'clock,  the  commanding  officer  of  the  Second 
division,  with  some  of  the  staff  and  the  Pioneer  corps,  the  latter 
having  spades,  started  to  find  the  advanced  line  of  the  Third 
brigade,  expecting  to  strike  some  part  of  the  main  line  of  that 
brigade  on  the  way.  The  party  crossed  the  brook,  which  runs 
over  the  Stockton  road  near  the  confederate  works,  at  a  point 
three  quarters  of  a  mile  from  those  works,  and  near  where  the 
Second  division  headquarters  afterward  were  fixed.  They  then 
passed  down  on  the  left  of  that  brook,  confident  of  at  least 
striking  the  rear  of  the  Third  brigade  skirmish  line  ;  but  having 
gone  fully  as  far  to  the  front  as  they  expected  that  line  was,  they 
halted.  An  aide  then  walked  forward  a  few  rods  in  the  darkness, 
but  was  fired  on  sharply  With  musketry,  the  balls  coming  in  the 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  129 

direction  of  the  party,  and  from  only  a  very  short  distance  off. 
It  seamed  then  that  the  fire  must  be  from  the  confederates,  and 
no  explanation  was  sought  for  in  that  position ;  but  the  party 
withdrew  and  made  a  new  start,  succeeding  better  the  second 
time,  yet  finding  the  Third  brigade  farther  to  the  left  than  was 
expected.  The  aide  contended  that  the  firing  was  from  the 
skirmishers  of  the  Third  brigade,  and  that  the  party  had  got 
upon  their  flank.  It  may  have  been  so,  and  undoubtedly  the 
result  would  have  been  different  but  for  the  darkness,  the  rough 
ness  of  the  ground,  and  the  thickness  of  the  shrubbery  with 
which  it  was  covered.  The  occurrence  is  mentioned  to  show  the 
difficulties  of  operations  in  the  night  on  strange  ground ;  how 
surprises  and  accidents  will  obstruct  the  best  intentions,  and 
how  important  it  is  that  orders  shall  be  specific,  and  lines  kept 
well  closed. 


CHAPTER    XYI. 

SIEGE  OF  SPANISH  FORT— SEVENTH  AND   EIGHTH  DAYS. 

April  2. — Sunday  morning  opened  clear  asd  mild,  yet  gave 
no  pause  to  the  roar  of  artillery  and  the  screeching  of  shells. 
Before  the  sun  rose,  some  shots  were  distinguished  in  the 
direction  of  Blakely,  which  very  soon  increased  to  a  full  volume 
of  continued  musketry  and  booming  of  field  guns. 

The  usual  Sunday  morning  inspection  was  observed  at  eight 
o'clock  by  those  of  the  besiegers  not  on  duty ;  the  drum-beat 
all  along  the  line,  gave  the  signals ;  and  afterward  were  heard 
the  cheering  strains  of  the  brass  bands.  When  the  garrison 
artillerists  could  do  so,  they  were  disposed  to  blend  with  this 
agreeable  music  the  explosion  of  a  shell. 

The  two  left  sections  of  Mack's  Eighteenth  New  York  battery 
— four  twenty-pounder  rifles — opened  in  the  morning,  in  Gran 
ger's  front,  four  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  McDermett. 
Capt.  Mack  noticed  that  it  was  the  eighth  Sunday  his  battery 
had  been  in  action.  The  sections  were  under  the  immediate 
command  of  Lieuts.  Williams  and  McConnel.  The  firing  was 
exceedingly  lively  and  accurate  ;  and  was  ably  answered  by  the 
guns  under  Captain  Barnes.  Solid  shot  and  shells  literally 
hailed  around  Mack's  battery,  and  many  of  his  command 
escaped  narrowly.  But  they  all  stood  up  to  their  work  without 
the  quiver  of  a  lip.  About  eleven,  Slocum's  Washington  artil 
lery  came  to  the  assistance  of  Fort  McDermett,  for  the  latter 
was  receiving  some  heavy  blows  also  from  the  First  Indiana 
eight-inch  mortars,  and  the  Massachusetts  light  guns  on  Mack's 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  131 

left  and  rear.  Tlie  Washington  artillery  almost  enfiladed 
Mack's  position,  and  hurled  their  hideous  projectil.es  at  him 
from  eleven  o'clock  till  one  in  the  afternoon.  Having  no  guns 
to  bear  on  them — they  being  too  far  to  his  right  he  could  only 
increase  the  intensity  of  his  fire  on  the  guns  in  his  immediate 
front.  He  dismounted  their  twenty-four-pounder  howitzer,  and 
before  110011  their  guns  were  all  silent.  But  at  four,  p.  M.,  they 
opened  on  him  again,  save  the  twenty-four-pounder.  He  re 
turned  the  fire.  The  Washington  artillery  again  set  on  him,  and 
the  combat  continued  till  dark.  His  works  had  been  struck 
thirty-eight  times,  during  the  day  ;  but  none  of  his  command 
were  killed  or  wounded.  Most  of  the  ensuing  night  was  spent 
by  his  men,  repairing  the  injury  to  his  works.1 

Fort  McDermett  had  suffered  the  most.  Its  parapet  had  been 
defaced,  and  an  Vlll-inch  mortar  shell  from  Lieut.  Raper's 
section  of  the  First  Indiana,  had  dropped  on  the  carriage  of  its 
Brooks'  rifls,  and  completsly  disabled  it. 

On  the  extreme  right  of  the  Sixteenth  corps,  Capt.  S.  F. 
Craig's  battery,  A,  Sixth  Michigan  heavy  artillery,  had  four 
X-inch  mortars  in  position,  behind  a  ridge  two  hundred  yards 
from  the  garrison  works  ;  from  which  he  had  a  fair  enfilading 
range. 

Farther  to  the  right  Wimmer's  and  Cox's  thirty-pounders,  and 
the  other  guns  commanding  Huger  and  Tracy  maintained  a 
steady  fire. 

Blankenship's  four  YHI-inch  mortars  of  the  First  Indiana, 
began  to  fire  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  threw  one  hundred 
shells  at  Bed  fort,  and  then,  his  ammunition  being  a  little  short, 
he  ceased  till  night. 

In  Granger's  front  batteries,  No.  2  and  No.  5,  for  heavy  guns. 

1  "The  night  after  this  the  confederate  sharpshooters  called  out  to  those  in 
Mack's  front,  and  inquired  what  battery  it  was,  and  on  being  informed,  replied 
humorously,  that  they  wished  it  might  be  taken  away. 


132  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

were  finished,  and  No.  6  commenced.  In  the  evening,  the 
Eighty-first  Illinois,  Lieut.-Col.  Eogers,  was  relieved  from  duty 
at  Minette  bayou,  and  took  position  on  Carr's  extreme  right, 
and  extended  rifle-pits  toward  the  bay,  on  a  line  with  the  ad 
vance  works  of  the  rest  of  its  brigade,  now  less  than  two  hun 
dred  yards  from  the  garrison  breastworks. 

In  the  Third  division,  Sixteenth  corps,  the  casualties  were 
only  eight  killed  and  wounded,  including  Capt.  C.  G.  Stetson, 
of  the  Thirty-third  Wisconsin,  who  was  instantly  killed  by  a 
confederate  sharpshooter,  while  superintending  the  construc 
tion  of  the  advance  line  of  works.  In  the  First  division,  Six 
teenth  corps,  the  casualties  were  only  four. 

The  Navy. — The  Octorara  had,  on  the  31st,  taken  her  two  IX- 
inch  guns  aboard,  but  in  the  afternoon  grounded  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  channel.  About  noon  of  the  2d,  she  opened  fire 
on  the  confederate  transport  Jeff.  Davis,  then  standing  down 
the  river  for  the  landing  at  Spanish  fort,  and  succeeded  in 
striking  her  once,  when  she  turned  and  steamed  up  the  river, 
out  of  range.  After  this,  transports  did  not  venture  to  Spanish 
fort  in  the  daytime. 

The  Eighth.  Day — April  3. — The  Navy. —  The  service  devolv 
ing  o-n  the  squadron  was  equally  difficult  and  dangerous.  Three 
vessels  had  now  been  destroyed,  and  a  number  of  lives  lost,  in 
consequence  of  the  thickly-strewn  torpedoes.  To  remove  these 
hidden  perils,  and  open  a  passage  for  the  squadron  up  the 
channel,  details  of  officers  and  seamen  kept  steadily  and  fear 
lessly  at  work.  In  these  duties  the  Metacomet,  Commander 
Pierce  Crosby,  appears  to  have  taken  the  lead. 

The  process  of  sweeping  for  torpedoes  was  performed  in 
boats,  by  pairs,  each  one  taking  the  end  of  a  line,  to  the  centre 
of  which  were  attached  light  weights,  and  small  ropes  in  loops, 
so  they  might  attach  themselves  to  anything  brought  in  con 
tact  with  them  upon  the  bottom.  The  boats  separated  a  short 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  133 

distance,  and  then  pulled  in  parallel  lines  up  or  down  the  chan 
nel,  dragging  the  line  with  its  centre  upon  the  bottom.  Many 
torpedoes  were  thus  taken  up.  When  one  was  taken,  it  was 
dragged  upon  the  marsh  and  pierced  with  a  rifle-ball  or  auger, 
to  admit  water  to  drown  the  charge. 

Admiral  Thatcher  concluded  to  adopt  additional  means  to 
clear  the  channel,  in  the  nature  of  nets  to  intercept  floating 
torpedoes ;  and  on  the  night  of  the  3d,  the  boats  of  the  Octo- 
rara,  with  a  small  boat  from  the  ironclad  Chickasaw,  got  the 
first  net  across  the  river,  from  the  wreck  of  the  Milwaukie  to 
the  flat  on  the  east  side  of  the  channel. 

Operations  of  the  Army. — The  four  X-inch  mortars  of  Com 
pany  K,  Sixth  Michigan  heavy  artillery,  Lieut.  Edward  C. 
Bearclsley  in  temporary  command  of  the  company,  came  up 
on  the  night  of  the  1st  of  April,  and  the  mortars  were  set  in 
the  rifle-pits  till  suitable  works  could  be  constructed.  Their 
position  was  close  to  the  edge  of  the  bluff,  four  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  from  McDermett,  and  about  the  same  distance  to  the  left 
of  Mack's  twenty-pounder  battery.  But  between  the  first  and 
second  sections  of  the  Sixth  Michigan  mortars,  was  a  battery  of 
four  Ylll-inch  howitzers  of  the  First  Indiana  which  took  posi 
tion  there  this  day.  Lieut.  Beardsley's  first  section  opened  in 
the  afternoon  in  a  satisfactory  manner  in  presence  of  Gen. 
Granger  and  several  other  officers,  the  first  two  shells  being 
dropped  directly  on  the  top  of  the  parapet  of  McDermett. 

Mack's  twenty-pounders  worried  the  garrison  at  different 
times  during  the  day,  but  the  guns  of  the  latter  in  his  front 
continued  silent ;  their  mortars,  however,  shelled  him  consider 
ably.  At  three,  P.  M.,  the  Washington  artillery  on  his  right 
again  commenced  on  him  throwing  shells  incessantly  to  a 
quarter  to  five,  p.  M.  His  works  were  struck  nine  times,  but  no 
serious  damage  was  done. 

In  the  front  of  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith's  corps  two  of  the  light  guns 


134  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

of  the  Fourteenth  Indiana  battery  were  taken  out  of  position, 
and  two  thirty-pounder  Parrotts  of  Hendrick's  battery  (L,  First 
Indiana  heavy  artillery),  under  Lieuts.  Clary  and  Benson,  were 
put  in  their  place.  But  the  construction  of  platforms  was  re 
tarded  by  the  garrison's  sharpshooters. 

Blankenship's  battery  (B,  First  Indiana)  had  been  engaged 
through  the  night  in  throwing  shells  into  the  garrison  to  dis 
turb  its  slumbers.  These  were  thrown  at  half-hour  intervals 
and  during  the  night  and  day  his  men  fired  one  hundred  and 
twenty-seven  rounds.  "While  a  number  of  these  Indiana  men 
were  standing  round  their  camp-fire,  a  shell  from  the  garrison 
came  over  and  fell  in  the  fire.  The  men  escaped  injury 
by  quickly  dropping  upon  the  ground  and  rolling  down  the 
hill. 

The  thirty-pounders  (Batteries  H  and  K,  First  Indiana)  on  Bay 
Minette  shore  were  still  engaged  actively  in  drawing  the  atten 
tion  of  Fort  Huger  from  the  besiegers'  flank,  and  fired  day  and 
night.  During  the  day  three  men  of  Battery  H  were  wounded — 
J.  S.  Holt  by  a  piece  of  shell  seriously,  and  Gray  and  Newman 
by  splinter  slight. 

In  the  Thirteenth  corps  front  Battery  No.  6  was  finished  and 
occupied  by  two  thirty-pounders  of  the  First  Indiana  Bat 
tery  (M).  Near  the  extreme  left  Capt.  Bough  advanced  his 
VIII~inch  howitzer  two  hundred  yards  nearer  McDermett. 
Four  cohorn  mortars  were  put  in  position  under  direction  of 
Lieut.  Sibert,  First  Indiana. 

An  incident  occurred  in  the  front  of  Marshall's  brigade  which 
well  illustrates  both  the  soldier's  daring  and  magnanimity. 
While  the  Seventh  Minnesota  was  on  duty  in  the  advance 
trench  in  the  daytime,  a  bird  came  and  lit  some  yards  in  front 
and  between  their  line  and  the  confederates.  Many  shots  were 
fired  at  the  bird,  and  it  soon  dropped  to  the  ground.  At  this 
Private  Win.  Kowe  of  Oapt.  Buck's  Company  D,  jumped  up 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  135 

over  the  works  and  ran  out  in  plain  sight  of  the  confederates, 
picked  up  the  bird  and  returned  unmolested  to  his  place  in  the 
trench. 

The  toil  of  the  besiegers  was  incessant  and  severe.  They  now 
had  only  three  divisions  and  one  brigade  engaged  in  the  siege. 
The  second  parallel  had  been  opened ;  in  some  places  the  third  ; 
approaches  or  saps  dug  and  heavy  batteries  from  day  to  day 
being  constructed.  It  was  by  no  means  smooth  work ;  for  in 
some  places  the  ground  was  rocky,  in  others  it  was  filled  with 
stumps  and  roots,  and  covered  with  large  logs.  The  details  had 
become  so  wearing  on  the  men  that  the  officers  sometimes  took 
the  musket  and  went  on  duty  themselves  as  sharpshooters  while 
the  men  rested  and  slept.  Besides  the  works  already  referred 
to,  the  besiegers  had  in  rear  of  their  first  or  outer  line  construct 
ed  bomb-proof  quarters.  For  the  most  part  these  were  regular 
and  sunk  in  the  earth.  The  pits  would  hold  from  three  to  eight 
men,  and  so  arranged,  of  course,  that  the  occupants  could  lie 
down.  They  were  covered  over  with  layers  of  logs,  sometimes 
three  thicknesses,  over  which  were  from  one  to  four  feet  of 
earth,  varying  according  to  the  exposure  of  their  situation  and 
the  industry  of  the  occupants. 

Among  the  besiegers  the  estimate  of  the  strength  of  the  garri 
son  varied  from  three  thousand  to  ten  thousand.  The  garrison 
at  first  under-estimated  the  number  of  the  besiegers,  thinking 
they  did  not  exceed  ten  thousand. 

The  casualties  in  the  garrison  were  this  day  reported  to  be 
eight  killed  and  sixteen  wounded.  In  Carr's  division  they  were 
three  killed  and  nine  wounded.1 


I  "  Sunday,  April  2 Huger  and  Tracy  very  vigorously  shelled  by  the 

enemy's  Bay  Minetfce  batteries  which  do  some  very  fine  practice.  All  going  on 
as  usual  at  Spanish  fort.  Enemy  steadily  advancing  against  our  salients,  par- 
tl'jularly  on  the  flanks  of  our  line.  Mortar  practice  pretty  lively  on  both  sides 
at  Spanish  fort.  Making  a  trend  way  to  the  rear  of  Battery  Tracy  for  commu- 


CHAPTER     XVII. 

SIEGE    OF    SPANISH    FORT— NINTH    DAY. 

April  4. — Marshall  returned  with  his  brigade  to  his  old  posi« 
fcion  on  the  left  of  the  Sixteenth  corps.  While  in  the  Thirteenth 
corps  front  he  had  advanced  the  trenches  two  hundred  yards. 
His  labor  had  been  severe.  The  details  were  heavy ;  each 
regiment  furnishing  one  half  its  men  daily  for  duty.  Three 
companies  were  on  fatigue  and  two  on  skirmish  duty  one  day 
and  two  on  fatigue  and  three  on  skirmish  the  next. 


nication  with  the  city,  owing  to  the  danger  and  difficulty  of  landing  in  steamers 
either  by  night  or  day  at  the  wharf  of  Tracy." 

"  Monday,  A.pril  3. — Shelling  of  Batteries  Huger  and  Tracy  from  the  enemy's 
Parrott  batteries  as  usual.  At  Spanish  fort  the  enemy  appears  to  be  engaged 
in  strengthening  his  first  and  second  parallels,  establishing  mortar  and  heavy 
artillery  batteries  and  makes  but  little  progress  in  his  approaches.  Very  heavy 
artillery  practice  toward  evening.  Continual  repairs  necessary  on  our  line, 
and  the  work  of  extending  our  left  to  Bay  Minette  across  the  marsh  continued 
as  the  enemy  seems  to  be  most  vigorous  in  front  of  our  left." — Diary  of  a  Con 
federate  Officer. 

Gibson  to  Maury :  "April  2,  7:30  P.M. — The  eighth  day  has  closed.  The 
situation  remains  unchanged.  The  enemy  in  the  first  day's  action  succeeded 
in  pushing  back  my  skirmish  lines  at  certain  points.  He  continues  to  erect 
very  heavy  batteries  and  is  using  large  mortars.  But  our  losses  become 
smaller  every  day,  our  ability  greater,  and  the  confidence  of  the  officers  and 
men  grows  stronger  and  stronger." 

Same  to  Same:  "April  3, 1865. — We  have  been  thoroughly  shelled  all  night, 
especially  by  mortars  and  there  is  brisk  musketry  this  morning.  I  never  saw 
such  digging  as  the  enemy  does — he  is  like  a  mole.  He  is  constructing  heavy 
batteries  on  my  extreme  flanks  that  are  going  to  give  me  great  trouble.  I  wish 
I  had  more  men  and  guns.  We  have  all  been  up  all  night.  It  is  digging  all 
night  and  fighting  all  day.  Be  certain  to  send  more  wooden  embrasures  of  the 
patent  I  requested,  iron  screens,  and  the  heavy  guns." 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  137 

Returning  to  his  former  position  Marshall  opened  a  trench 
from  Hubbard's  advance  parallel  toward  the  left,  connecting 
with  the  works  of  the  Thirteenth  corps,  and  commenced  saps 
to  it  from  the  rear  line.  This  advanced  line  was  only  a  hundred 
yards  from  the  salient  of  the  garrison,  Battery  No.  3. 

To  fill  the  gap  made  by  the  withdrawal  of  Marshall,  Col.  Krez 
moved  his  brigade  around  to  its  proper  position  on  Benton's 
left.  The  ground  vacated  by  Krez  was  occupied  by  the  Six 
teenth  corps  extending  its  left. 

The  brigade  of  Col.  Krez  had  met  with  some  loss  since  the 
28th  in  holding  its  exposed  skirmish  line.  In  the  Twenty-eighth 
Wisconsin  two  had  been  killed  and  six  wounded  ;  in  the  Twenty- 
seventh  Wisconsin  one  had  been  killed  and  six  wounded ;  in  the 
Thirty-third  Iowa  one  had  been  killed  and  four  wounded. 

At  this  time  the  advance  parallels  of  the  besiegers  were 
within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  different  salients  of  the  garrison 
fortifications.  The  garrison  had  also  extended  counter  ap 
proaches  and  rifle-pits  so  that  the  sharpshooters  on  both  sides 
were  within  talking  distance. 

Forts  Huger  and  Tracy  were  strengthened  by  placing  bags  of 
sand  on  the  parapets  between  the  embrasures,  the  filled  sand 
bags  having  been  sent  down  the  river  in  the  night  on  flats. 

In  Granger's  front,  Battery  No.  1,  on  the  extreme  left,  was 
finished  for  eight  heavy  pieces. 

1  "At  Huger  and  Tracy  preparations  are  being  made  for  better  protection 
against  the  enemy's  shelling  by  erecting  sand-bag  merlons.  One  X-inch  colum- 
biad  temporarily  displaced  to-day.  Sand  furnished  to  Tracy  and  Huger  by 
floating  down,  at  night,  flats  loaded  with  filled  sand-bags. 

"  Mortar  firing  going  on  steadily  all  day  at  Spanish  fort.  The  enemy's  bat 
teries  are  largely  increased.  The  enemy's  line  now  up  to  within  one  hundred 
yards  of  all  of  our  salients.  Tremendous  cannonading  from  four,  p.  M.,  til] 
seven,  from  about  thirty  to  forty  guns  and  a  dozen  mortars  on  the  part  of  the 
enemy.  We  reply  from  nearly  the  same  number.  But  few  casualties  on  our 
side,  not  exceeding  six  or  eight  all  told.  One  sap-roller  appears  in  front  of  our 
left  centre."— Diary  of  a  Confederate  Officer. 


138  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

In  anticipation  of  the  general  bombardment  that  was  to  com 
mence  at  five,  P.  M.,  the  besiegers'  artillery  fired  but  little  before 
that  hour.  The  X-inch  mortars  of  the  Sixth  Michigan,  on  the 
left,  did  not,  however,  entirely  neglect  McDennett ;  and  their 
fire  was  answered.  A  twenty-four-pounder  shell  exploded  at 
the  entrance  of  Lieut.  Beardsley's  magazine,  but  did  no  harm. 
Another  shell  struck  among  the  men  while  they  were  at  dinner 
down  under  the  bluff,  wounding  Corporal  Perrin,  and  arousing 
an  Irishman's  apprehensions  for  the  safety  of  the  coffoe. 

Capt.  Blankenship's  battery  (B,  First  Indiana)  fired  twenty 
rounds  per  hour  from  each  mortar  from  five,  A.  M.,  till  five,  P.  M. 
This  battery  was  also  disturbed  at  the  dinner-hour.  A  shell 
came  through  the  captain's  tent  and  exploded,  causing,  in  the 
excitement,  the  dinner  to  be  upset,  and  "  all  the  queen's-ware 
to  be  broken — which,  however,  was  but  one  cup  and  saucer." 

The  two  twelve-pounders  of  Morse's  Fourteenth  Indiana, 
which  had  been  withdrawn  to  give  place  to  thirty-pounders, 
were  put  in  position  on  the  extreme  right. 

Lieut.  James  (Battery  I,  First  Indiana)  arrived  with  detach 
ment,  and  relieved  Lieut.  Sibert,  acting  adjutant,  in  charge  of 
the  cohorn  mortars. 

The  guns  of  Bay  Minetto  battery  were  engaged  throughout 
the  day. 

Capt.  Foust  having  procured  a  fresh  supply  of  ammunition, 
his  battery  of  steel  guns  resumed  its  original  position. 

During  the  day  the  garrison  were  quite  annoying  with  their 
cohorn  mortars,  and  troubled  the  infantry  in  their  advanced 
pits  exceedingly.  The  fire  from  small  mortars  was  troublesome 
on  both  sides.  The  Sixteenth  corps  had  made  a  number  of 
wooden  mo-rtars,  which  were  also  quite  effective.  Each  mortar 
was  made  of  a  log  about  a  foot  in  diameter,  sixteen  inches  in 
length,  and  of  calibre  for  a  four-inch  shell. 

Up  to  and  including  the  4th  of  April  the  loss  in  the  Thir- 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  139 

;eenth  corps  was  twenty-six  killed  and  one  hundred  and  sev 
enty-seven  wounded. 

The  Navy. — In  the  afternoon,  the  Octorara  got  afloat  and 
resumed  fire  on  Spanish  fort  with  her  one-hundred-pounder 
Parrott. 

The  Garrison. — Phillips'  Tennessee  battery,  in  Red  fort 
(No.  4),  had  suffered  so  much  from  the  mortar  shells,  it  was 
relieved  by  Capt.  James  Garrity's  Mobile  battery.  The  effec 
tive  strength  of  the  latter  was  sixty-seven.  It  was  composed 
of  northern-born  men,  and  had  participated  in  the  prominent 
battles  of  the  Southwest,  from  Shiloh  to  Nashville. 

The  Bombardment. — At  this  date,  the  besiegers  had  in  posi 
tion  against  Spanish  fort,  thirty-eight  siege-guns  (including  six 
twenty-pounder  rifles,  and  sixteen  mortars),  and  thirty-seven 
field  guns,  all  of  which  (seventy-five),  with  the  Minette  bay 
battery,  against  Huger  and  Tracy,  opened  fire  at  five,  p.  M.,  and 
continued  till  seven,  p.  M.  The  orders  were  for  each  gun  to 
fire  every  three  minutes.  There  was  not  much  response,  except 
from  the  guns  of  Old  Spanish  fort.  It  was  a  well-sustained  and 
grand  bombardment.  The  garrison  sought  shelter  in  their 
bombproofs.  Clouds  of  dust  rose  from  their  parapets.  "The 
earth,"  says  a  correspondent,  "  actually  trembled  from  the  effect 
of  this  mighty  fire."  Meanwhile,  the  sharpshooters,  in  the 
skirmish  trenches  or  pits,  kept  up  their  accustomed  firing. 

The  signal  had  been  given  by  Mack's  battery,  the  Eighteenth 
New  York.  That  battery  fired  three  hundred  and  sixty  rounds, 
and  its  works  were  hit  seventeen  times  during  the  day.  In  the 
bombardment  there  was  a  premature  explosion  of  one  of  its 
guns,  which  mortally  wounded  Aaron  Vosberg,  a  most  excellent 
and  gallant  young  soldier. 

Two  thirty-pounder  Parrotts,  of  Capt.  S.  E.  Armstrong's 
battery  (M,  First  Indiana  heavy  artillery),  had  taken  position, 
eight  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  McDermett,  the  preceding 


140  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

night,  and  opened  fire  at  the  signal  for  the  bombardment; 
Their  fire  was  answered  with  great  vehemence  by  the  guns  oi 
Old  Spanish  fort ;  and  the  shells  of  the  latter  dropped  thick 
and  fast  over  the  battery  of  Capt.  Armstrong.  Once  there  wae 
a  pause  of  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  in  their  fire,  and  the  gunners 
of  Battery  M  were  congratulating  themselves  on  the  happy 
prospect  that  they  had  quit  for  the  day,  when  they  again 
opened  with  greater  fury,  nor  ceased  till  after  it  was  dark. 

The  No.  1  X-inch  mortar,  of  Company  K,  Sixth  Michigan, 
exploded  a  caisson  in  McDermett,  which  produced  a  loud  cheer 
among  the  besiegers. 

The  first  section  of  Hendrick's  Battery  (L,  First  Indiana), 
Lieuts.  Clary  and  Benson,  opened  on  Old  Spanish  fort  and  Eed 
fort,  from  Carr's  left ;  and  the  second  section,  Lieut.  Parker, 
near  McArthur's  right,  dismounted  the  columbiad  in  Eed  fort . 
but,  no-u  knowing  this  at  the  time,  the  guns  continued  in  the 
same  range  and  destroyed  the  embrasure. 

During  the  bombardment,  Blankenship's  battery  threw  one 
hundred  and  sixty  shells  inside  the  garrison  works. 

Capt.  Wimmer  observed  a  transport,  loaded  with  troops, 
approaching  from  above,  but  she  did  not  come  within  range. 

When  the  bombardment  was  over,  the  men  received  a  ration 
of  whiskey ;  the  bands  struck  up  patriotic  airs ;  and  cheers 
echoed  and  re-echoed  from  one  end  of  the  line  to  the  other. 

There  was  no  enthusiasm,  of  course,  in  the  garrison  ;  yet,  a 
feeling  of  relief  and  satisfaction.  Owing  to  the  art  of  bomb- 
proofs,  they  had  been  hurt  less  than  could  have  been  expected ; 
and  they  had  been  spared  an  assault.  Gen.  Lidell  congratu 
lated  the  garrison  commander  on  his  slight  loss.1 


1  Lidell  to  Gibson :  "April  4 Hope  you  will  yet  drive  away  trie 

Yankee  devils,  and  am  delighted  that  you  have  suffered  so  little.    Will  try  and 
get  Gen.  Maury  to  send  you  another  VHI-inch  columbiad." 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

SIEGE     OF    SPANISH    FORT— TENTH,    ELEVENTH,    AND    TWELFTH 

DAYS. 

April  5. — At  this  stage  of  the  siege,  mortar-shells  were  thrown 
into  the  garrison  throughout  the  night  at  regular  intervals.  A 
ten-inch  mortar-shell  is  a  fraction  under  ten  inches  in  diameter, 
and  weighs  very  nearly  ninety  pounds.  An  eight-inch  shell  is 
nearly  eight  inches  in  diameter,  and  weighs  about  fifty  pounds. 
Some  idea  can  be  formed  of  the  noise  they  produce  in  explod 
ing.  But  although  that  wa,s  calculated  to  brsak  the  slumber  of 
the  garrison,  what  was  most  to  be  dreaded  was  their  fatal  effect 
when  they  chanced  to  strike  near  troops ;  for  this  had  been 
experienced  in  distressing  examples.  On  this  day,  a  ten-inch 
shell,  fired  from  Captain  Craig's  Company  A,  Sixth  Michigan, 
struck  inside  the  garrison's  battery  (No.  5,  sand-bag  battery), 
and  went  through  six  feet  of  earth  and  three  layers  of  pine-logs, 
literally  burying  twenty-six  men,  of  whom  one  was  killed  and 
five  were  wounded.  During  the  previous  night,  Blankenship's 
battery  had  thrown  fifty-four  eight-inch  shells  inside  the  garri 
son  works.  In  course  of  the  day,  he  fired  only  six  rounds. 
There  was  a  moderate  amount  of  firing  by  the  besiegers'  artil 
lery,  but  very  little  from  the  garrison.  The  twenty-pounders  of 
the  Eighteenth  New  York  were  engaged  nearly  all  day  but  were 
not  replied  to.  Armstrong's  battery  was  not  annoyed,  and  he, 
having  been  directed  not  to  bring  on  an  engagement  without 
orders  from  the  corps  commander,  his  thirty-pounders  only  fired 
occasional  shots.  The  X-inch  mortars  of  the  Sixth  Michigan, 


142  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

in  front  of  McDermett,  were  actively  engaged,  and  disabled  a 
twenty-four-pounder  howitzer  in  that  fort. 

The  enterprise  of  the  besiegers  on  the  left  was  marked,  and 
Gen.  Gibson  was  apprehensive  an  effort  would  be  made  to  turn 
his  right.1 

Capt.  Barnes  (Company  C,  Twenty-second  Louisiana),  while 
signalling  to  his  Ylll-inch  mortar,  in  rear  of  McDermett,  the 
effect  of  his  fire,  was  struck  by  a  musket-ball,  and  fell  severely 
wounded.  Up  to  this  time  the  casualties  in  his  company  had 
been  three  killed  and  twenty-three  wounded ;  more  than  half 
its  effective  strength. 

This  day,  Gen.  Gibson  telegraphed  Maury  that  the  garrison 
flanks  were  swept  by  heavy  batteries,  that  his  men  were  worked 
all  the  time,  and  that  their  lines  were  thinner  than  when  they 
had  fought  under  Johnston  and  Hood.  He  also  asked  for 
a  force  of  negroes,  and  said  he  could  make  good  soldiers  of 
them.2 

From  the  beginning  of  the  siege,  the  garrison  had  been  look 
ing  for  a  diversion  in  their  favor,  by  Forrest.  But  the  blow 
struck  at  his  forces  by  Wilson,  and  the  fall  of  Selma,  were 


1  "  At  Huger  and  Tracy  operations  as  usual.  And  nothing  new  at  Spanish 
fort  except  an  apprehension  on  the  part  of  Gen.  Gibson  that  the  enemy  is 
attempting  to  turn  our  fight  flank  along  tba  marsh,  between  Blakely  river  and 
our  extreme  right." — Diary  of  a  Confederate  Officer. 

a  Gibson  to  Maury :  "  April  5. — Enemy  sweeps  my  flanks  with  heavy  bat 
teries,  and  presses  on  at  all  points.  Can't  you  send  me  a  little  craft  under  my 
orders.  My  line  is  extended  now  to  the  water  and  in  it.  My  men  are  worked 
all  the  time,  and  I  don't  believe  I  can  possibly  do  the  work  necessary  in  the 
dense  flats  on  the  flanks.  Can't  you  take  a  look  at  the  situation  to-morrow. 
I  really  can't  spare  any  more  men  for  launches.  My  men  are  wider  apart  than 
they  ever  were  under  Generals  Johnston  and  Hood.  The  works  not  so  well 
managed  nor  so  strong,  and  the  enemy  in  larger  force,  more  active,  and  closer. 
Can't  you  send  me  the  detachments  belonging  to  Ector  and  Holtzclaw.  Can't 
you  send  a  forco  of  negroes,  with  axes.  I  can  make  good  soldiers  of  the 
negroes." 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  143 

now  well  known,  and  produced  a  dispiriting  effect  on  the  gar 
rison.1 

April  6,  Eleventh  Day. — A  footway  was  now  finished  from 
Fort  Tracy  over  the  marsh  to  Conway's  bayou,  affording  a  new, 
but  limited  communication  for  the  garrison  with  Mobile.  Affairs 
appeared  to  be  growing  critical,  on  account  of  the  uncertainty 
c,nd  danger  of  their  communications. 2  The  artillerists  were  cau 
tioned  to  bo  prudent  of  ammunition,  to  fire  only  when,  they  saw 
the  enemy,  and  not  to  answer  his  artillery.  They  had  to  report 
how  their  ammunition  was  expended,  and  make  requisition^ 
every  night  for  what  they  would  need  the  ensuing  twenty-four 
hours. 

The  planting  of  torpedoes  in  front  of  the  garrison  works,  and 
where  there  appeared  most  danger  of  close  approach,  was 
renewed.  The  previous  night  Gen.  Holtzclaw  had  staked  out  a 
new  line  running  off  from  Red  fort,  intending  to  withdraw  his 
left,  and  thus  materially  shorten  the  garrison  line  ;  but,  in  course 
of  the  forenoon,  Mack's  twenty-pounder  rifles  swept  down  the 
stakes  with  their  fire  ;  Holtzclaw  told  Gibson  that  the  besiegers 
had  already  got  the  range  of  his  proposed  new  line,  and  the 
purpose  of  occupying  it  was  abandoned.  Lumsden's  battery  on 
the  garrison's  left  was  relieved  by  Perry's  Chattanooga  battery, 
with  one  hundred  and  twenty  effective  men. 

The  Besiegers. — In  Granger's  front,  Battery  No.  8,  and  the 

1  About  this  date  the  Mobile  Register  said :  "  We  suppose  it  is  useless  to 
conceal  that  a  Yankee  raiding  party  has  dashed  into  Selma,  before  our  forces 
were  concentrated  to  prevent  it.     The  result  is  nothing  except  the  loss  of  the 
government  works  at  that  point." 

2  "At  Huger  and  Tracy  nothing  new.     A  good  communication  is  opened 
with  the  city  from  these  points  by  the  footway  to  Conway's  bayou.    At  Spanish 
fort  the  enemy  are  steadily  but  not  rapidly  approaching  our  salients.    An 
engineer  company  is  ordered  to  both  Blakely  and  Spanish  fort  to  commence 
mining  operations  against  the  enemy's  approaches.     Three  heavy  guns  removed 
to  Blakely  and  several  mortars,  all  our  operations  retarded  by  the  uncertainty 
and  danger  of  communications." — Diary  of  a  Confederate  Officer. 


144  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

right  branch  of  No.  4,  had  been  finished  the  previous  daj.  The 
right  branch  of  Battery  No.  8,  was  finished  the  6th. 

There  was  but  little  artillery  firing  during  the  day.  Granger 
crdered  the  two  thirty-pounders  of  Capt.  Armstrong's  battery 
(First  Indiana)  to  be  brought  to  bear  in  an  enfilading  fire  upon 
the  garrison's  rifle-pits  in  front  of  Bed  fort.  The  embrasures 
not  admitting  of  this,  Armstrong  proposed  to  move  one  of  his 
guns  out  on  open  ground  some  yards  to  the  left,  whence 
there  would  be  good  range.  After  some  hesitation,  permission 
was  given  him  to  do  this.  Fifteen  rounds  of  case  shot  and  shell 
were  fired  on  the  pits,  causing  the  confederate  sharpshooters  to 
scamper  out  of  them  before  night,  and  several  shots  were  fired 
during  the  night.  "When  the  gun  was  taken  out  a  continued  fire 
on  the  gunners  was  kept  up  by  sharpshooters  in  front  of  Mc- 
Dermett,  but  they  were  about  eight  hundred  yards  off,  and  in 
flicted  no  injury.  Meantime,  a  rope  was  attached  to  the  trail  of 
the  gun,  and  men  placed  in  readiness  to  haul  it  into  the  works 
in  case  the  garrison  guns  opened  upon  it. 

Blankenship's  mortars  (Company  B,  First  Indiana)  fired  only 
five  rounds  during  the  day.  Capt.  Eichard  Campbell  (Battery 
I,  First  Indiana)  assumed  command  of  three  twenty-pounders  in 
Me  Arthur's  front. 

Wirnmer  withdrew  his  four  guns  from  Minette  bay  battery, 
and  moved  to  works  in  front  of  Blakely.  "While  withdrawing, 
there  was  a  heavy  fire  on  the  battery  from  the  confederate  gun 
boats. 

There  was  no  interruption,  of  course,  of  work  in  the  trenches. 
On  the  left,  the  Twenty-third  Iowa  and  Ninety-fourth  Illinois 
were  in  the  front,  and  established  a  new  line,  taking  some  rifle- 
pits,  in  which  were  found  three  confederates,  dead. 

The  casualties  were  light.  In  A.  J.  Smith's  corps  there  was 
one  killed  (in  Eleventh  Missouri),  and  eight  wounded. 

In  Hubbard's  brigade.  McArthur's  division,  suspicion  was  e3> 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  145 

cited  during  the  afternoon  that  the  garrison  was  evacuating 
Whereupon  Lieut.  Jules  Capon,  of  the  Ninth  Minnesota,  a 
brave  and  enterprising  officer,  with  a  detail  of  a  dozen  picked 
men  from  his  regiment,  was  directed  to  reconnoitre  the  garrison 
works  as  soon  as  it  should  become  dark.  He  succeeded  in 
getting  his  men  through  the  abatis  and  to  the  ditch  of  Red 
fort,  without  arousing  attention,  and  remained  there  long  enough 
to  become  satisfied  the  works  were  still  occupied  in  force.  In 
withdrawing,  he  was  fired  upon,  but  none  of  the  party  were  hit. 

April  7— Twelfth  Day.— The  Navy.— On  the  night  of  the 
5th,  tlie  channel  had  been  swept  with  chains  by  a  couple  of 
tugs.  At  five,  A.  M.,  of  the  6th,  the  gunboats  steamed  up  and 
anchored  close  to  the  torpedo  net,  five  thousand  one  hundred 
and  seventy  yards  from  Spanish  fort ;  did  not  open  fire,  how 
ever,  on  account  of  the  presumed  exposed  condition  of  the  land 
forces  in  their  advanced  rifle-pits.  But  on  the  morning  of  the 
7th,  the  flagship  signalled  the  Octorara  to  fire,  which  she  did. 
The  fire  was  continued  at  intervals  during  the  day,  the  supply 
of  ammunition  not  admitting  of  constant  firing. 

In  Fort  Huger,  a  twelve-pounder  howitzer  was  dismounted ; 
and  the  elevating  screw  of  a  X-inch  columbiad  on  bombproof 
was  shot  away,  disabling  it,  by  a  ten-pounder  rifle  of  the  Bay 
Minette  battery. 

At  Tracy  the  sand-bag  additions  to  the  parapet  progressed, 
and  a  telegraph  was  started  direct  to  Mobile.  In  Spanish  fort 
Capt.  Slocum  (Washington  artillery)  had  got  his  disabled 
columbiad  repaired  and  in  position.  The  garrison  experienced 
increasing  danger  from  the  besiegers'  enfilading  batteries,  and 
constructed  additional  traverses  and  boinbproofs  for  cover. 
Cheveaux-de-friese  were  also  prepared,  and  at  night  placed  in 
front  of  the  more  damaged  and  exposed  parts  of  their  works.1 

1  "  Friday,  April  7. — At  Hnger  and  Tracy  the  work  of  constructing  merlons 
progressing,  and  a  telegraph  line  commenced  from  Tracy  direct  to  Mobile.  At 

10 


146  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

The  strength  of  the  garrison  on  the  morning  of  April  7,  was 
as  follows  : 

Gibson's  brigade  (aggregate  present) 674 

Ector's  "  659 

Holtzclaw's  "  .'..988 

ArtiUery  "  506 

Total 2,827 

Kumber  of  small  arms 2,047 

The  Besiegers. — The  infantry  were  busy  still  in  advancing  their 
approaches ;  and  the  sharpshooting  on  both  sides  from  the 
advance  rifle-pits  rendered  it  unsafe  for  a  man's  head  to  be 
exposed  there  for  a  moment.  In  the  morning  there  was  a  sharp 
straggle  on  the  left  to  hold  the  position  which  had  baon  gained. 
The  besiegers  now  used  embrasures  made  of  heavy  split  plank 
which  were  set*  into  the  parapets,  and  under  the  angle  of  which 
they  fired.  The  confederates  also  used  wooden  embrasures  ; 
but  they  were  made  of  boards  and  covered  over  with  the  earth 
of  the  parapet.  The  men  called  them  "  Beauregard  screens." 

Among  the  batteries  already  finished  in  the  Sixteenth  corps, 
was  one  for  two  thirty-pounders  taken  from  the  Milwaukie,  and 
manned  by  some  of  her  crew. 

A  one  hundred-pounder  Parrott  under  Lieut.  Compton,  Bat 
tery  K  (First  Indiana),  with  detail  of  twenty  men,  was  put  in 
Minette  Bay  battery. 

Spanish  fort  unusual  activity  on  the  part  of  the  enemy's  sappers.  His  ap 
proaches  on  our  right  are  made  by  a  succession  of  close  parallels  without 
boyaux  ;  and  on  our  left  and  centre  he  has  gained  from  thirty  to  forty  feet 
since  yesterday.  A  new  battery  is  established  enfilading  a  portion  of  our  left 
and  taking  our  centre  in  reverse,  which  with  the  constant  mortar  firing  on  this 
portion  of  our  line  proves  to  be  very  annoying.  Our  troops  attempt  to  remedy 
this  by  making  additional  traverses  and  bombproofs,  and  cheveatix-de-friese 
are  placed  in  front  of  the  exposed  and  damaged  portions  of  line  to  protect 
against  any  attempt  at  a  coup-de-main." — Diary  of  a  Confederate  Officer. 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  147 

In  the  Thirteenth  corps  two  more  batteries, .  for  siege  guns 
were  finished,  and  the  guns  put  in  position.  Lieut.  Stamper 
Battery  B,  moved  his  two  YHI-inch  mortars,  with  success,  a 
thousand  yards  to  the  right,  to  obtain  better  range  of  Red  fort. 

During  the  day  the  artillery  firing  was  very  light.  In  the 
afternoon  there  was  a  heavy  fall  of  rain.  The  besiegers  were 
getting  ready  for  another  grand  bombardment ;  and  the  garrison, 
since  their  arsenal  at  Selma  had  been  destroyed,  felt  the  need 
of  economizing  ammunition. 

An  artillery  officer  put  down  in  his  diary  the  following  :  "  The 
siege  progresses  splendidly.  How  different  from  -  — .  There 
it  was  charge  !  charge  !  charge  !  Here  a  little  more  good  sense 
is  shown,  and  a  regard  had  for  human  life  ;  and  the  end  ap 
proaches  much  more  rapidly." 

The  Hospital. — Each  corps  had  its  hospital  situated  two  miles 
to  the  rear.  They  were  amply  supplied  and  well  administered. 
As  fast  as  was  practicable,  the  patients  were  sent  in  steamers 
to  the  general  hospital  in  New  Orleans.  For  instance,  on  the 
evening  of  March  31,  one  hundred  of  the  federal  wounded, 
including  three  officers,  arrived  at  New  Orleans,  on  the  steamer 
N.  "W.  Thomas,  under  charge  of  Surgeon  Hunieston,  assisted  by 
Surgeon  Hagy. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

SIEGE  OF  SPANISH  FORT— THIRTEENTH  AND  LAST  DAY. 

Saturday,  April  8.  —  Thirteenth  Day. — On  the  morning  of 
the  8th,  G-enerals  Gibson  and  Holtzclaw  were  of  the  opinion 
it  was  time  to  evacuate.  But  Lieut. -Col.  Williams,  who  had 
been  chief  of  artillery  in  Stewart's  corps,  expected  to  finish  a 
battery  for  four  twelve-pounders,  on  Holtzclaw's  left,  to  enfilade 
the  besiegers'  left,  and  expected  to  have  the  guns  in  position 
the  ensuing  night.  It  was,  therefore,  concluded  to  hold  on 
another  day,  to  give  Williams  an  opportunity  to  try  his  battery 
Meantime,  orders  were  given  for  all  the  garrison  artillery  to 
open  vigorously  at  four,  p.  M.  In  view  of  the  close  approach  of 
the  besiegers,  steps  were  also  taken  to  have  additional  torpedoes 
planted. 

The  Navy. — In  the  afternoon  the  guns  of  Old  Spanish  fort 
opened  on  the  boats  of  the  squadron  that  were  sweeping  the 
channel  for  torpedoes.  The  Octorara  then  resumed  her  effect 
ive  fire  with  the  one-hundred-pounder  Parrott. 

The.  Besiegers. — In  the  Thirteenth  corps,  Battery  No.  12,  for 
three  siege  guns,  was  completed.  There  had  now  been  con 
structed  in  this  corps,  besides  the  batteries,  ten  thousand  five 
hundred  yards  of  parallel  and  sap. 

In  Bertram's  front  the  works  were  carried  to  within  one 
hundred  yards  of  McDermett. 

McArthur's  division  of  the  Sixteenth  corps  had  constructed 
three  thousand  nine  hundred  and  seventy-five  yards  of  parallel, 
and  two  thousand  and  thirty-five  yards  of  sap  besides  two  bat- 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  149 

teries  for  heavy  guns  Hubbard's  brigade  of  that  division  liad 
approached  nearest  to  the  garrison  works,  the  head  of  the  sap 
from  his  second  parallel  being  only  sixty  yards  from  Red  fort. 

Carr's  division,  in  addition  to  work  on  parallels  and  saps,  had 
done  most  of  the  work  of  batteries  for  about  fifty  guns,  in 
cluding  mortars.  In  his  front  the  siege  had  been  pushed,  as 
everywhere  else,  with  unceasing  vigor  and  industry.  There 
were  two  well-defined  parallels,  and  some  work  done  on  the 
third ;  four  approaches  or  saps,  two  of  which  admitted  of  artil 
lery  passing  under  cover  ;  and  in  front  of  Moore's  brigade  there 
were  two  approaches  extending  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the 
main  works  of  the  garrison.  On  Carr's  right  flank,  across  the 
swamp,  a  gabion  work  had  been  extended  by  carrying  earth 
from  the  high  ground,  affording  cover  to  sharpshooters,  a  hun 
dred  yards  from  the  garrison's  left. 

There  were  now  in  position  in  the  Minette  bay  battery  four 
thirty-pounder  and  two  one-hundred-pounder  rifles ;  against 
Spanish  fort,  fifty-three  siege  guns  (including  nine  twenty-  pound 
er  rifles  and  sixteen  mortars)  and  thirty-seven  field  guns  (the 
Seventh  Massachusetts  was  withdrawn  and  moved  to  Blakely) : 
total  ninety-six  guns.  Four  siege  rifles  and  five  siege  howitzers 
on  the  left  centre  enfiladed  the  garrison's  centre  and  left ;  and 
four  siege  howitzers  close  in  on  the  extreme  right  enfiladed  their 
centre. 

A  bombardment,  which  proved  to  be  the  final  one,  opened 
from  all  these  guns  at  half-past  five,  P.  M.,  and  continued  till  half- 
past  seven,  P.  M.  The  twenty-pounders  of  the  Eighteenth  New 
York,.Capt.  Mack,  again  fired  the  signal. 

Gen.  Canby  was  intending  to  assault  the  garrison's  works  the 
following  morning  at  eight  o'clock.  But  the  corps  commanders 
had  received  instructions,  when  the  investment  commenced,  to 
push  forward  the  works  as  fast  as  consistent  with  due  care  of 
the  men,  and  to  take  advantage  of  every  opportunity  that 


150  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

promised  successful  and  decisive  results,  but  not  to  attempt  an 
assault  without  that  assurance. 

Before  the  bombardment  commenced  the  besiegers  took  the 
precaution  to  double  the  force  of  their  sharpshooters  and  the 
reserves. 

The  garrison  having  arranged  for  a  general  artillery  fire, 
opened  before  the  bombardment  was  commenced  by  the  be 
siegers. 

Mack  having  given  the  signal,  directed  his  fire  principally 
against  McDermett.  The  shot  and  shell  from  the  latter  came 
against  his  battery  thick  and  fast.  His  works  were  struck  at 
least  fifty  times,  but  not  one  of  his  men  received  even  a  scratch. 
Eight  guns  were  being  fired  from  McDermett.  Earlier  in  the 
day,  one  of  Capt.  Mack's  guns  had  done  splendid  execution 
on  Red  fort,  in  knocking  away  two  of  its  embrasures,  and  a 
solid  shot  struck  down  an  officer  at  a  distance  of  three  fifths 
of  a  mile. 

The  four  thirty-pounders  of  Capt.  Armstrong's  battery  (M, 
First  Indiana),  each  fired  every  half-minute.  The  section  of 
his  battery  near  the  right  of  the  Thirteenth  corps,  had  been 
much  annoyed  by  the  garrison's  sharpshooters,  and  one  of  the 
cannoniers,  Private  Wm.  EL  Sparks,  was  badly  wounded  in  the 
forehead. 

Up  to  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  Capt.  Blankenship's  mor 
tars  had  fired  forty  rounds.  During  the  bombardment  they 
fired  one  hundred  and  twenty  rounds. 

The  batteries  of  Bough,  Cox,  and  Hendricks,  were  doing  good 
service.  The  latter  had  one  man  wounded.  In  Cox's  battery 
four  were  wounded.  It  has  been  seen  thai;  the  greater  part  of 
the  First  Indiana  heavy  artillery  was  engaged  in  the  siege. 
The  regiment  was  under  the  command  of  Col.  B.  F.  Hays,  who 
was  assisted  during  the  siege  by  Maj.  James  M.  Connelly,  in 
front  of  the  Sixteenth . corps,  and  Maj.  J.  W.  Day,  in  front  of 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  151 

the  Thirteenth  corps.  During  the  siege,  Battery  B  expended 
five  hundred  and  seventy  rounds  of  ten-inch  shell,  and  six  hun 
dred  and  thirty-nine  of  eight-inch  shell ;  C,  two  hundred  and 
eighty-six  rounds  ;  H,  seven  hundred  and  one  rounds  ;  I,  four 
hundred  and  eleven  rounds ;  K,  seven  hundred  and  twenty 
rounds ;  L,  six  hundred  and  forty-three  rounds  ;  M,  four  hun 
dred  rounds. 

The  fire  of  so  many  large  guns,  and  the  loud  explosion  of 
shells,  produced  one  of  those  sublime  scenes  which  seldom 
occur,  even  in  the  grandest  operations  of  war.  There  is 
scarcely  anything  in  the  phenomena  of  nature  to  which  it 
could  be  compared  ;  certainly  not  the  distant  murmur  of 
the  thunder,  nor  its  near  and  startling  crash.  Yet,  in  moun 
tain  storms  may  have  been  witnessed  a  scene  to  which  this 
grand  commingling  of  many  thunders  forms  some  comparison. 
It  is  when  a  storm  having  risen,  the  dark  clouds  seem  to  lin 
ger  on  the  mountain-tops,  and  from  all  quarters  of  the  heavens 
the  awful  bolts  burst  forth  simultaneously. 

ASSAULT. 

Gen.  Carr  having  pushed  his  works  on  the  right  about  as 
close  to  the  garrison  works  as  practicable,  concluded  to  take 
advantage  of  the  cannonading,  and  carry,  by  assault  on  their 
flank,  some  two  hundred  yards  of  the  confederate  left,  and  gain 
a  crest  covered  with  a  grove  of  pines.  The  possession  of  that 
point  he  rightly  judged  would  give  him  a  commanding  position 
for  a  battery,  and  afford  an  effective  fire  in  reverse  on  their 
works  by  infantry. 

Ector's  brigade,  in  his  front,  comprised  the  Ninth,  Tenth, 
Fourteenth,  and  Thirty-second  Texas  regiments,  and  the 
Twenty-ninth  and  Thirty-ninth  North  Carolina  regiments. 

After  the  bombardment  had  commenced,  and  at  about  six 
o'clock,  Col.  Geddes,  commanding  the  brigade,  went  to  Lieut.- 


152  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

Col.  Bell,  then  commanding  the  Eighth  Iowa  infantry  volun 
teers,  informed  him  that  Gen.  Carr  and  himself  had  concluded 
to  advance  two  companies  on  the  crest  of  the  hill,  well  up  to 
the  confederate  works,  as  a  picket  guard,  and  that  they  could 
intrench  themselves  during  the  night.  He  instructed  Col.  Bell 
to  accomplish  this  in  any  manner  he  chose,  but  to  be  particular 
to  keep  his  regiment  behind  the  gabion  work,  which  was  on  the 
right,  across  the  swamp.  Col.  Geddes  inquired  how  long  it 
would  take  him  to  get  ready  and  commence  the  advance  of  the 
two  companies,  so  that  he  could  return  to  the  rifle-pits  and 
direct  the  fire  of  the  brigade,  and  attract  the  attention  of  the 
garrison  forces  in  his  front.  Col.  Bell  replied,  "  Fifteen  min 
utes  ;"  yet  he  had  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  go,  the  compa 
nies  to  select,  and  arrangements  to  make.  At  ten  minutes  past 
six,  his  regiment  was  in  position  behind  the  gabion  work.  Com 
pany  A,  Capt.  Henry  Muhs  commanding,  and  Company  G, 
Lieut.  Henry  Vineyard  commanding,  were  selected  for  the 
advance,  and  both  companies  promptly  moved  around  the  right 
of  the  gabion  work,  and  gallantly  deployed  forward  on  the 
centre,  Capt.  Muhs  commanding  the  line  of  skirmishers.  Thsy 
had  nearly  one  hundred  yards  of  ground  to  pass  over  before 
reaching  their  objective  point,  the  most  of  which  was  wet  and 
soft,  and  covered  thickly  with  fallen  trees.  Col.  Bell  accompa 
nied  them  till  he  was  satisfied  they  would  gain  the  desired  po 
sition,  when  he  returned  to  the  balance  of  the  regiment  behind 
the  work.  But  his  little  assaulting  party  encountered  obstacles 
at  every  step.  Even  if  they  did  not  pause  to  fire,  their  progress 
could  not  be  rapid,  and  the  Texas  troops,  from  behind  their 
works,  were  on  the  alert,  and  resisted  them  with  as  sharp  a 
musketry-fire  as  was  in  their  power.  About  the  time  the  move 
ment  commenced,  a  cheer  was  given  by  the  rest  of  the  division 
to  give  the  impression  that  a  general  assault  was  intended,  and 
to  draw  attention  from  the  real  point  of  attack.  Tins  made  the 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  153 

Texas  troops  only  tlie  more  emulous  to  hold  their  ground,  and 
their  fire  grew  more  intense  and  deadly.  They  could  also  per 
ceive  too  well  its  effect — for  a  number  of  the  gallant  young  men  of 
the  Eighth  had  already  fallen.  The  remainder  of  the  party  had 
about  come  to  a  pause,  and  were  sharply  engaging  the  Texans, 
yet  with  disadvantage.  Col.  Bell  then  took  the  responsibility  of 
sending  forward  Company  H,  Lieut.  Ball  commanding,  to  their 
support  And  feeling  anxious  about  the  fate  of  those  in  front, 
and  his  regiment,  on  account  of  the  low  position  they  occupied, 
not  being  able  to  cover  them  at  all  with  their  fire,  he  sent 
Lieut.  Clark,  of  Company  E,  to  Col.  Geddes,  for  permission  to- 
advance  with  the  balance  of  his  command.  The  latter,  behind 
the  gabion-works,  could  see  the  contest  their  comrades  were- 
engaged  in,  and  were  eager  to  rush  forward  to  their  assistance. 
Col.  Bell  feared  that  the  assaulting  party,  if  unsupported,  would 
finally  be  driven  back,  in  which  case  they  would  be  almost  anni 
hilated.  In  a  few  moments,  therefore,  after  Lieut.  Clark  had 
started  off,  he  ordered  the  remainder  of  the  regiment  forward 
over  the  gabion-work,  crossing  himself  in  the  centre,  and  each 
wing  closing  in  and  f  olio  wing  him  over,  a  few  at  a  time.  Arriv 
ing  on  the  ground  held  by  the  advance  companies,  it  was  found 
to  be  too  hot  a  place  to  stop  at  with  safety,  and  so,  with  his 
gallant  command,  he  charged  over  the  confederate  works  with 
out  halting.  The  resistance  was  so  vehement  that  his  men  had 
to  engage  the  Texans  sharply  before  forming,  and  they  were,  of 
course,  in  much  disorder  ;  but  there  was  no  hesitating  and  no 
flinching.  Col.  Bell  now  noticed  that  a  mortar-battery  in  his  rear 
was  bursting  shells  just  over  him,  not  knowing  who  he  was. 
Some  one  happily  suggested  to  him  to  plant  the  regimental  colors 
on  the  captured  parapet,  which  was  done,  and  he  also  waved  his 
hat  for  the  battery  to  throw  its  shells  farther  up  the  line.  A  num 
ber  of  the  Eighth  had  fallen  before  reaching  the  garrison  woiks. 
Early  in  the  assault,  Henry  Vineyard,  first  lieutenant,  Company 


154:  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

G,  was  struck  in  the  left  arm  by  a  musket-ball;  but  hardly  noti 
cing  it  he  pushed  on.  Near  the  crest  of  the  hill  his  left  thigh 
was  fractured,  and  it  proved  to  be  a  mortal  wound.  Some  of 
his  comrades  gathered  around  him,  but  he  said  :  "  Pay  no  atten 
tion  to  me,  boys — move  on." 

Col.  Bell  sent  information  to  Col.  Geddes  of  his  success,  and 
requested  support.  But  it  was  dark  and  his  regiment  had  been 
engaged  an  hour  before  any  assistance  came. 

Meantime,  the  musketry  fire  was  intense.  For  the  rest  of 
Carr's  division  was  maintaining  a  constant  fire  from  their  front, 
partly  as  a  diversion  to  the  assault.  At  a  distance  the  sound 
was  terrible.  It  seemed  as  if  the  contestants  were  grappling 
in  a  close  death  struggle.  And  they  were. 

On  entering  the  works  the  Eighth  Iowa  became  furiously 
engaged  with  the  Texas  and  North  Carolina  troops,  and  many 
fell  on  both  sides.  But  the  Eighth  kept  forming  as  they  fought ; 
.and  rushing  closer  and  closer  upon  their  adversaries  finally 
made  them  yield.  Those  who  could  not  escape  they  captured. 
Such  was  the  clamor  of  the  firing  on  all  parts  of  the  line,  that 
this  combat,  sharp  as  it  had  been,  was  hardly  discernible  by 
those  not  engaged  in  it.  Hence  those  of  the  Texans  next  on 
the  right,  being  in  detached  pits,  were  surprised  when  the 
Eighth  Iowa  advanced  upon  them.  There  were  from  four  to 
,a  dozen  of  them  in  a  pit.  The  pits  were  deep  and  a  few  yards 
apart.  Detachments  of  the  Eighth  rushed  eagerly  upon  them 
demanding  their  surrender.  Some  of  them  complied.  But 
there  were  many  who  refused,  even  when  the  bayonet  was  at 
their  breast,  and  the  muzzle  of  the  musket  at  their  head.  They 
'fought  to  the  last  moment,  and  then,  with  the  words,  "  I  never 
will  surrender"  on  their  lips,  met  death  in  a  fearless  manner. 
Some  were  taken  prisoners  who  were  less  noble  and  brave, 
for,  after  being  ordered  to  surrender  by  the  men  of  the  Eighth, 
they  would  first  fire  on"  them,  and  then  throw  up  both  hands 
=and  surrender. 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  155 

Lieut.-Col.  Bell,  with  his  command,  captured  about  three 
hundred  yards  of  the  confederate  works,  three  stand  of  colors, 
and  three  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners. 

The  loss  of  the  regiment  was  five  enlisted  men  killed,  three 
commissioned  officers  and  seventeen  enlisted  men  wounded, 
some  mortally.  The  officers  wounded  were  Capt.  F.  P.  Ket- 
lenring,  Company  B  ;  Lieut.  Henry  Vineyard  (mortally),  and 
Lieut.  Spencer  Smith,  Company  A. 

Entering  the  garrison  works  alone,  maintaining  there  a  severe 
struggle,  and,  finally,  in  a  victorious  manner,  sweeping  along 
the  rear,  capturing  works  and  prisoners,  was  a  daring  and 
romantic  exploit,  and  justly  entitles  the  Eighth  Iowa  to  bril 
liant  distinction.  It  was  an  achievement  which  called  forth 
and  well  illustrated  the  best  elements  of  soldiership. 

It  was  some  time  after  dark  before  any  regiment  came  to 
Col.  Bell's  support.  The  first  troops  that  entered  the  works 
after  him  was  the  Eighty-first  Illinois,  Lieut.-Col.  Rogers  com 
manding.  It  had  three  men  wounded  in  the  engagement  that 
evening.  Next  followed  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighth  Illinois, 
Col.  Turner,  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Illinois, 
Col.  Howe.  Each  of  these  regiments,  and  their  commanders, 
did  all  that  was  required  of  them  in  the  action,  in  a  gallant 
manner.  Col.  Geddes,  the  brigade  commander,  also  came  up, 
and  apprehending  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  garrison  to 
recover  the  works  which  had  been  captured,  placed  Lieut.-Col. 
Bell,  with  the  Eighth  Iowa,  outside  of  the  garrison  works, 
fronting  toward  them.  About  the  same  time  he  placed  Col. 
Turner,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighth  Illinois,  in  temporary 
command  of  all  the  troops  of  his  brigade  present. 

As  soon  as  Gen.  Carr  had  learned  the  success  of  the  Eighth 
Iowa,  he  gave  orders  for  a  line  of  rifle-pits  to  be  thrown  up  at 
the  extent  of  the  ground  taken,  and  perpendicular  to  the  garri- 
eon  works.  And  the  work  was  commenced. 


156  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

Carr  then  hastened  to  the  naval  battery,  where  were  Gens. 
Canbj  and  A.  J.  Smith,  and  informed  the  commanding  genera] 
what  had  been  done  ;  and  he  was  ordered  to  follow  up  the 
advantage  gained  as  far  as  possible. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  firing  had  been  very  sharp  on  the  other 
flank  in  front  of  McDermett.  The  Nineteenth  Iowa  were  in  the 
advance  rifle-pits,  and  their  fire  and  that  of  the  batteries  had 
about  silenced  the  guns  in  that  work.  The  garrison  was  then 
so  much  pressed  that  Col.  Bruce  was  apprehensive  of  an  attack 
to  drive  him  back,  and  he  had  ordered  bayonets  to  be  fixed. 
Pretty  soon  the  Twenty-third  Iowa,  Col.  Glasgow,  came  up  to 
the  front  on  the  double  quick,  and  Bruce  then  expected  an 
assault  was  to  be  made. 

As  soon  as  Gen.  Gibson  learned  that  the  line  had  been  broken 
on  his  left,  he  directed  Gen.  Holtzclaw  to  have  it  restored ;  but 
he  was  informed  by  the  latter  that  the  Texas  brigade  was 
doubled  up,  and  in  confusion,  and  that  the  attacking  force 
was  too  strong  to  be  driven  back.  These  officers  then  had  a 
hurried  consultation,  and  determined  it  was  best  to  evacuate. 
But  to  render  this  safe  it  was  necessary,  of  course,  that  they 
should  hold  Carr's  division  in  check ;  and  reinforcements  were 
sent  as  soon  as  possible  for  that  purpose. 

The  Eighth  Iowa  was  first  brought  to  a  stand  by  Coleman's 
North  Carolina  regiment  and  a  detachment  of  garrison  (or  pro 
vost)  guards,  commanded  by  Lieut.  A.  G.  Clark,  of  Gen.  Gib 
son's  staff,  and  Lieut.  Holtzclaw,  aide  to  Gen.  Holtzclaw.  This 
force  formed  perpendicular  to  their  main  works.  Its  strength 
was  between  two  hundred  and  three  hundred,  and  must  have 
felt  it  was  confronting  superior  numbers.  Nevertheless  they 
realized  that  the  safety  of  the  garrison  depended  upon  their 
valor,  and  also  that  it  was  perilous  to  remain  there  on  the  defen 
sive.  A  charge  was  ordered  and  attempted.  But  Carr's  ad 
vance  remained  steadfast,  except  that  a  few  skirmishers  were 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  157 

driven  back,  and  the  change  repulsed  with  loss.  The  two  aides, 
rallying  their  men,  led  them  forward  with  a  dauntless  spirit. 
Lieut.  Clark  was  killed ;  Lieut.  Holtzclaw,  severely  wounded. 
It  was  this  bold  front  that  enabled  the  garrison  safely  to 
escape. 

Col.  Zacharie,  commanding  Twenty-fifth  Louisiana  infantry, 
had  now  come  up  with  some  sixty  men  of  his  regiment.  He  had 
left  his  position  near  McDermett  and  had  double-quicked  to  Gib 
son's  headquarters,  and  thence  out  to  the  left,  with  instructions 
to  do  what  he  could  to  restore  the  line.  He  first  formed,  with 
his  left  covering  the  treadway,  and  his  right  thrown  forward,  and 
soon  afterward  advanced.  In  a  short  time  he  sent  forward  a 
few  men  as  scouts  to  reconnoitre,  but  they  returned  saying  they 
could  see  nothing  of  the  federal  line.  He  sent  others  but  with 
no  better  success.  In  about  an  hour  and  a  half  he  sent  forward 
a  captain,  one  sergeant,  and  two  men  from  the  Twenty-second 
Louisiana,  telling  them  to  go  till  they  discovered  the  federal  line. 
They  went  but  were  captured.  The  ground  in  front  of  the  fede 
rals  was  thickly  covered  with  timber  and  underbrush,  and  cut 
by  deep  ravines.  It  being  also  dark,  it  was  natural  that  they 
should  be  cautious  and  make  sure  of  the  advantage  already 
gamed. 

Gibson  was  withdrawing  his  forces  on  the  treadway  across  the 
swamp.  This  treadway  extended  out  to  the  river  at  Fort "  Hu- 
ger,  where  the  garrison  crossed  over  in  boats  and  embarked  as 
fast  as  possible  on  transports.  But  the  treadway  was  only  two 
feet  wide,  and  the  passage  over  it  was  slow.  Moreover,  to  pre 
vent  noise,  the  troops  took  off  their  shoes  and  stockings  and 
walked  barefooted. 

The  purpose  of  evacuating  was  cautiously  imparted  and  went 
round  to  the  officers  in  a  whisper  ;  for  it  was  apprehended  some 
of  the  troops  would  loudly  object.  The  first  movements,  there 
fore,  were  in  the  nature  of  a  feint.  "When  the  right  wing  left 


158  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

their  quarters,  many  of  the  men  thought  they  were  going  to 
reinforce  the  left. 

At  about  nine  o'clock,  Capt.  Garrity  sent  in  a  requisition  for 
ammunition.  The  lieutenant  brought  back  a  handful  of  spikes 
to  spike  the  guns.  He  and  his  command  left  an  hour  after 
ward.  Between  ten  and  eleven,  Gen.  Holtzclaw  informed  Col. 
Zacharie  that  he  was  evacuating,  and  to  exercise  his  discretion 
as  to  when  he  would  withdraw.  In  a  short  time  after  Zacharie 
withdrew  as  rear-guard,  with  the  Sixteenth  Louisiana,  Lieut. 
Col.  Lindsay,  who  had  made  the  charge  the  morning  of  27th 
March,  as  rear-guard  proper. 

Before  their  final  departure,  however,  a  party  of  these  troops 
had  gone  up  to  within  fifty  yards  of  Carr's  advance,  and  on 
receiving  a  volley  fell  back  and  were  seen  no  more.  During  the 
evening  one  of  the  confederate  parties  that  charged  Carr's  ad 
vance,  came  up  within  thirty  yards  calling  out  "we  surrender," 
and  then  fired.  The  Eighth  Iowa  fired  on  them  and  fixed  bayo 
nets,  at  which  they  faced  about  and  ran  rapidly  back. 

Soon  after  the  Eighth  Iowa  made  a  lodgment,  Carr  had 
ordered  Col.  Moore  to  leave  three  hundred  men  in  the  trenches 
and  with  the  balance  of  his  brigade  move  round  to  the  right  to 
reinforce  Geddes'  brigade.  After  having  made  this  movement, 
Moore  set  the  Ninety-fifth  Illinois,  Col.  Blanding,  to  opening  a 
road  through  the  abatis  and  works  for  troops  and  artillery  to 
pass ;  it  being  the  general  impression  that  the  garrison's  left 
was  withdrawn  merely  to  an  interior  line.  He  also  posted  the 
Thirty-third  Wisconsin  so  as  to  flank  the  confederates  should 
they  attempt  to  change  their  supposed  front. 

At  nine  o'clock,  perceiving  that  Geddes'  brigade  had  not 
developed  this  supposed  new  line  of  the  confederates,  on  his 
own  responsibility  he  moved  back  to  his  old  front.  Then, 
by  his  directions,  Major  James,  Seventy-second  Illinois,  with 
the  three  hundred  men  who  had  been  left  in  the  trenches 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  £9 

charged  the  garrison  skirmishers  remaining  in  the  advance  pits, 
unconscious  of  the  evacuation,  and  captured  them,  easily.  Moore 
then  moved  the  balance  of  his  brigade  over  the  main  works. 

About  the  same  time  Ward's  brigade  captured  the  garrison 
skirmishers  in  its  front.  Some  of  the  latter  called  out,  "Don't 
shoot,  Yanks,  we  are  coming  in."  And  they  were  as  good  as 
their  word. 

Moore  soon  wheeled  to  the  left,  charged  along  the  garrison 
works  in  reverse  and  flank,  and  captured  a  number  of  prisoners, 
and  kept  on  till  he  got  to  Old  Spanish  fort  where  a  few  more 
prisoners  were  captured.  Learning  there  from  a  prisoner  how 
the  garrison  had  escaped,  he,  with  the  Thirty-third  Wisconsin, 
hastened  down  to  the  foot-bridge  but  was  too  late  to  accom 
plish  anything. 

Gecldes  with  his  brigade  reached  Old  Spanish  fort  between 
eleven  and  twelve,  and  the  men  being  tired  after  so  much  watch 
ing  and  fighting,  arms  were  stacked  and  they  were  allowed  to 
rest. 

There  was  now  a  scramble  for  the  hams  and  corn-meal  left 
by  the  garrison ;  and  especially  was  there  a  scramble  for  pos 
session  of  the  captured  guns. 

At  midnight,  the  Octorara  aimed  a  hundred-pounder  shell 
at  Old  Spanish  fort,  and  although  it  went  some  distance  beyond, 
the  troops  thought  it  prudent  to  change  their  position  for  the 
present.  After  leaving  proper  guards  over  the  captured  prop 
erty,  Carr's  division  returned  to  their  quarters,  having  in  their 
possession  between  four  hundred  and  five  hundred  prisoners. 
It  had  done  a  splendid  day's  work. 

As  soon  as  Gen.  Canby  was  informed  of  the  lodgment  made 
by  the  Eighth  Iowa,  he  sent  notice  of  the  fact  to  Granger, 
who  at  once  communicated  the  agreeable  intelligence  to  his 
corps.  It  produced  much  enthusiasm.  The  men  cheered  all 
along  tli3  line. 


1GO  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

The  divisions  on  Carr's  left  it  appears  took  the  confederate 
pickets  in  their  respective  fronts.  But  this  was  not  done  till 
after  midnight.  In  McArthur's  division,  Capt.  French,  Fifth 
Minnesota,  of  Hubbard's  brigade,  having  charge  of  the  sharp 
shooters,  captured  those  in  front  of  that  brigade,  and  was 
followed  over  the  works  by  the  Forty-seventh  Illinois,  Maj. 
Bonhani  commanding.  McArthur's  division  captured  one  com 
missioned  officer  and  forty-nine  enlisted  men. 

The  ground  in  front  of  the  confederate  main  works  was  con 
siderably  mined  with  torpedoes — or  as  they  wtere  called,  sub- 
terra  shells.  Marshall's  entire  brigade,  of  McArthur's  division, 
moved  into  the  fort  before  daylight.  There  were  some  confed 
erate  dead,  then,  to  be  seen  in  their  front  lying  upon  the  ground. 
Of  these  one  appeared  to  have  been  killed  by  a  musket-ball 
while  planting  a  torpedo.  Close  by  him  was  a  spade ;  also  a 
torpedo  planted  about  two  feet  in  the  ground,  but  not  yet  cov 
ered.  They  buried  him  there  with  it. 

In  front  of  Day's  brigade,  Benton's  division,  Capt.  Shepherd, 
Company  F,  Ninety-first  Illinois,  had  charge  of  the  skirmish 
line,  and  hearing  the  shouts  of  Carr's  division  entered  the  works 
in  his  front  unopposed,  with  a  detachment  of  the  Ninety-first 
and  the  Fiftieth  Indiana.  In  the  brigade  front  of  Col.  Krez  a 
detachment  of  his  brigade  first  entered  under  Maj.  Boydston, 
'  of  the  Thirty-third  Iowa,  and  on  the  extreme  left,  at  about 
midnight,  Col.  McNulta  with  the  Forty-ninth  Illinois  entered 
McDermett  capturing  the  picket  in  front,  and  soon  after  had 
the  colors  raised  over  that  heavy  work  amid  the  loud  cheery  of 
the  delighted  men. 

The  siege  of  Spanish  fort  was  at  an  end.  About  five  hundred 
prisoners  and  all  the  artillery,  nearly  fifty  pieces,  captured. 
Bertram's  brigade  was  ordered  to  remain,  and  garrison  Spanish 
fort, ••  with  instructions  to  collect  and  take  charge  of  the  ord 
nance  and  other  property.  All  the  rest  of  the  infantry,  and 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  161 

most  of  the  artillery,  were  ordered  to  move  immediately  to 
Blakely. 

In  the  Thirteenth  corps  the  loss  had  been  :  in  Benton's 
division,  sixteen  killed,  one  hundred  and  sixteen  wounded, 
twenty-seven  captured^  and  one  missing  in  action — total,  one 
hundred  and  sixty ;  in  Bertram's  brigade,  about  eighty,  killed 
and  wounded. 

In  Me  Arthur's  and  Carr's  divisions  of  the  Sixteenth  corps, 
the  entire  loss,  in  the  siege,  was  twenty-six  killed,  three  hun 
dred  and  nineteen  wounded  and  captured. 

As  soon  as  Gen.  Canby  knew  of  Carr's  assault,  he  telegraphed 
to  Gen.  Steele,  at  Blakely,  to  send  down  a  brigade,  to  reinforce 
that  part  of  the  line.  Slack's  brigade  moved  down  promptly, 
and  reported  to  Gen.  Smith,  but  the  latter  sent  them  back, 
saying  he  wanted  no  assistance.  While  this  brigade  was  rest 
ing,  near  the  shore  of  Bay  Minetfce,  and  the  men  were  talking 
and  laughing,  a  part  of  the  garrison,  in  their  retreat,  were  pass 
ing  along  on  the  marsh,  not  many  yards  from  them,  and  within 
hearing. 

Retreat  of  the  Garrison. — As  the  rear-guard  of  the  garrison 
were  stepping  upon  the  treadway,  they  heard  tremendous 
cheering  up  at  McDermett,  which  must  have  been  soon  after 
the  Ninety-fourth  Illinois  had  entered.  Shortly  after,  they 
heard  cheering  on  the  road  leading  to  Blakely,  and  conjectured 
their  victors  were  already  on  the  march  for  that  place  ;  but  the 
troops  they  heard  must  have  been  Slack's  brigade,  which  started 
back  to  Blakely  soon  after  midnight. 

There  was  no  little  excitement  among  the  confederates  as 
they  thronged  the  marshy  bank  at  the  end  of  the  treadway. 
Some  shells  had  passed  closely  over  them  from  the  right  of  the 
Sixteenth  corps,  as  they  had  come  over  the  treadway,  and  the 
place  they  occupied  was  commanded  by  several  of  the  besiegers' 
batteries.  Wind  and  tide  were  against  them,  and  they  thought 

11 


162  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

it  unsafe  to  use  any  other  vessels  than  the  light-draught 
blockade-runners.  Their  passage  over  to  Huger  was,  therefore, 
slow,  and  they  were  still  huddled  on  th-3  marshy  bank,  with  a 
prospect  of  daylight  finding  hundreds  of  them  still  there.  At 
this  juncture,  it;  being  midnight,  Col.  Locket t,  chief  engineer, 
proposed  to  Gen.  Gibson  that  a  portion  of  the  troops  endeavor 
to  make  their  way  up  to  Blakely  through  the  marsh.  Being 
acquainted  with  the  locality,  he  offered  to  guide  the  column 
himself.  The  suggestion  was  adopted,  and  about  a  thousand 
of  the  garrison  took  up  the  march  for  Blakely.  The  distance 
was  five  miles.  The  march  was  difficult,  but  not  so  difficult  as 
might  have  been  apprehended ;  for  there  are  few  things  the 
soldier's  resolution  cannot  overcome.  The  route  lay  through 
mud  and  water,  through  marsh  grass,  canebrakes,  or  thick 
underbrush,  and  over  bayous.  The  men  often  sank  down  in 
the  swamps,  and  sometimes  had  to  be  pulled  out  by  their  com 
rades.  It  was  reported  that  some  were  lost,  but  the  better 
opinion  is  they  all  arrived  safely  at  Blakely.  They  reached 
that  place  at  dawn,  thoroughly  exhausted  and  presenting  a 
singular  appearance.  In  course  of  the  day,  they  proceeded  on 
steamers  to  Mobile. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  SIEUE  OF  SPANISH  FORT. 

GEN.  Beauregard  considered  it  a  mistake  for  the  confederates 
fco  garrison  any  part  of  the  Eastern  shore  of  Mobile  bay.  His 
opinion  was  that  Huger  and  Tracy  should  have  been  made  self- 
sustaining  forts,  and  that  the  main  garrison  should  be  in  Mobile. 
That  appears  to  be  the  better  opinion. 

The  object  of  holding  Spanish  fort  was  to  protect  Huger  by 
preventing  the  establishment  of  batteries  to  bombard  the  latter. 
But  it  really  could  not  effect  much  in  that  respect,  because 
some  distance  north  of  Spanish  fort,  on  the  shore  of  Bay 
Minette,  the  site  of  batteries  actually  established,  guns  could  be 
placed  which  in  two  weeks  time  would  have  crushed  Huger  and 
Tracy. 

Nevertheless,  there  was  an  advantage  to  the  confederates  in 
having  Spanish  fort.  It  was  a  cover  whence  parties  could  have 
been  sent  out  to  obstruct  the  communications  of  the  federals, 
and  operating  as  the  former  could  on  interior  lines  they  could 
have  concentrated  a  sufficient  force  there  to  cause  much  an 
noyance. 

This  suggests  the  answer  to  the,  opinion  expressed  by  some 
confederate  engineers,  that  it  was  a  mistake  in  the  federal  com 
mander  to  have  noticed  Spanish  fort  at  all,  they  holding,  that  it 
would  have  been  better  for  his  purpose  to  have  passed  those  works 
and  attempted  the  destruction  of  Huger  and  Tracy,  with  bat 
teries  on  Bay  Minette  or  shore  ;  or  passing  all  the  eastern-shore 
garrisons  to  have  gone  round  to  the  confluence  of  the  Tombigbee 


164  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

and  the  Alabama,  the  occupation  of  Mobile  by  the  confederates 
being  then  a  question  of  supplies.  Undoubtedly  the  evacuation 
of  Spanish  fort  could  have  been  compelled  by  indirect  opera 
tions,  yet  before  the  accomplishment  of  that,  was  there  not  too 
much  danger  to  be  apprehended  to  the  communications,  if  an 
enterprising  enemy  should  be  left  in  a  strong  position  on  the 
very  line  necessary  to  use  ?  On  the  12th  April,  Gen.  Maury  left 
Mobile,  with  four  thousand  five  hundred  infantry.  About  five 
hundred  had  been  captured  at  Spanish  fort,  three  thousand  at 
Blakely,  and  the  killed  and  wounded  must  have  numbered  at 
both  places  five  hundred  ;  so,  that  at  the  beginning  of  the  siege 
his  effective  force  must  have  been  about  nine  thousand.  If  an 
opportunity  had  warranted,  this  force  could,  with  but  little 
trouble,  have  concentrated  at  Spanish  fort.  But  it  would  have 
been  dangerous  to  have  had  half  that  force  sallying  out  from 
that  garrison. 

The  garrison  fully  expected  to  be  assaulted  on  the  27th  of 
March.  That  was  one  reason  why  it  was  not  best  to  assault. 
The  character  of  the  works  were  not  then  fully  known  to  the  fed 
erals.  Furthermore,  there  was  no  pressing  necessity  nor  special 
object  to  be  gained  "by  an  immediate  assault.  On  the  contrary 
not  much  would  have  been  gained  in  time  as  the  army  would 
still  have  been  waiting  for  supplies.  As  has  been  seen,  some 
portions  of  the  fortifications  around  Spanish  fort  were  quite  elab 
orate,  as  also  the  obstructions  in  front ;  and  they  had  been  made 
by  skilful  engineers.  The  troops  behind  them  were  veterans. 
Ordinary  prudence  would  dictate  that  the  besiegers  should  at 
least  have  one  line  of  works  behind  which  they  could  fall  back 
in  security  in  case  of  an  unexpected  accident  or  reverse.  Nev 
ertheless  if  a  general  assault  had  been  ordered  on  the  first  day 
or  on  any  subsequent  day,  there  is  no  doubt  it  would  have  been 
successful,  And  this  is  the  opinion  of  the  garrison  officers. 
But  it  would  have  been  stubbornly  resisted,  and  success  would 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  165 

have  cost  many  valuable  lives.  The  best  place  for  the  assault 
was  where  it  occurred ;  for  it  was  the  weakest  part  of  the  garri 
son's  line.  The  fact  that  it  was  unexpected  and  the  darkness 
probably  are  the  reasons  for  its  not  being  followed  up  rapidly 
enough  to  capture  all  the  garrison.  Gen.  Canby  liad  already  de 
termined  to  carry  the  works  by  a  general  assault  the  next  morn 
ing  at  eight  o'clock,  which  no  doubt  would  have  been  a  lucky 
hour  ;  for  the  garrison  commander  had  cautioned  his  troops  to 
" be  prepared  for  an  assault  every  morning  before  daylight,  ev 
ery  day  at  twelve,  M.,  and  every  evening  before  dark."  An  as 
sault  would  not  have  been  expected  at  eight. 

The  besiegers  and  garrison  alike  are  entitled  to  praise  for  con 
stant  industry  and  for  energy.  The  besiegers  had  the  most 
work  to  do ;  and  the  works  constructed  will  long  remain  as  evi 
dence  of  their  willing  toil. 

The  garrison  commander,  Gen.  Gibson,  was  competent  and 
active,  and  inspired  his  troops  with  enthusiasm.  He  was  highly 
complimented  by  his  superior  officers  for  his  conduct  during 
the  siege.  Second  to  him  in  command  was  Gen.  Holtzclaw, 
also  an  accomplished  and  earnest  officer.  In  fact  the  officers 
and  troops  comprising  the  garrison  were  remnants  of  many 
historic  campaigns,  and  possessed  no  small  share  of  culture 
and  spirit. 

The  only  neglect  which  can  be  cited  against  the  garrison 
was  their  failure  to  construct  strong  and  connected  works  on 
their  left  down  across  the  swamp.  This  is  where  ihey  were 
assaulted.  Their  works  there  were  disconnected  and  their 
occupants  were  captured  in  detail.  More  industry  and  care 
there  would  have  enabled  them  to  repulse  the  attack,  or  would 
have  prevented  the  attack  that  was  made. 

The  garrison  displayed  uncommon  resolution  and  courage 
in  the  frequency  of  its  sorties.  About  a  dozen  must  have  been 
made  in  all.  One  was  attended  with  brilliant  success.  Holtz- 


166  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

claw  had  arranged  for  two  more  sorties  on  the  night  of  the  8th. 
They  were  intended  against  the  right  and  left  of  McArthur. 

It  appears  that  a  formal  siege  of  Spanish  fort,  with  heavy 
artillery,  was  not  decided  upon  till  after  the  investment.  Siege 
batteries  were  then  sent  for  and  brought  on  transports  from  the 
forts  at  the  mouth  of  the  bay.  During  the  siege  the  ammuni 
tion  was  brought  up  from  Fort  Morgan,  and  the  labor  of  land 
ing  it  there  was  performed  by  the  Sixth  Michigan. 

Some  experienced  confederate  artillerists  at  Spanish  fort 
expressed  the  opinion  that  the  firing  of  the  besiegers'  land  bat 
teries  was  not  generally  good.  While  the  results  of  the  latter's 
fire  must  be  their  justification,  it  is  proper  to  remark  that  there 
was  some  complaint  about  the  ammunition.  Col.  Hays,  com 
manding  First  Indiana  heavy  artillery,  states  in  his  report  that 
the  Hotchkiss  pattern  of  solid  shot  would  end  over  when  fired, 
and  that  the  shells  would  burst  prematurely.  The  shells,  he 
says,  were  made  more  effective  by  emptying  out  the  powder 
with  which  they  were  charged  and  refilling  them  with  sand,  and 
then  using  them  as  solid  shot. 

Always  seek  an  Enfilading  Fire. — The  engineer  operations  of 
the  besiegers  were  directed  by  Gen.  Comstock  and  Col.  McAl 
lister,  and  were  conducted  with  skill  and.  energy.  Positions 
were  soon  selected  and  batteries  started  whence  damaging 
enfilading  fire  could  be  delivered ;  an  object  ever  to  be  kept  in 
view  in  the  use  of  all  arms. 

Have  tlie  Trendies  continuous,  and  Approaches  secure. — The 
stumps  and  fallen  trees  afforded  so  much  cover  to  the  besiegers' 
skirmishers  that  even  the  first  or  second  day  they  got  out  some 
hundreds  of  yards  beyond  any  continuous  line  of  rifle-pits.  They 
continued  to  occupy  such  advanced  positions  before  approaches 
to  them  were  started ;  and  were  consequently  in  a  very  exposed 
situation.  The  result  of  this  was  the  loss  of  a  captain  and 
twenty  men  in  Benton's  front.  If,  -as  should  have  been  done, 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  167 

an  approach  had  been  started  and  followed  close  up  to  the  line 
occupied  by  the  skirmishers,  they  could  then  have  retreated 
when  so  severely  shelled,  or  reinforcements  could  have  been 
sent  to  them.  As  it  was,  they  were  at  the  mercy  of  the  gar 
rison.  In  a  siege,  the  skirmishers  or  picket  should  be  but  a 
short  distance  from  the  advance  line  of  works,  unless  they  have 
a  safe  approach  from  that  line  to  their  posts.  The  loss  of 
twenty  men  in  a  siege,  out  of  rifle-pits,  has  much  more  moral 
effect  than  the  loss  of  the  same  number  on  an  open  battle-field. 
Scipio  is  said  to  have  been  overjcved  when  ho  inflicted  on 
Caesar  a  loss  of  only  twenty -sevini  men,  and  that  on  open 
ground, 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

SIEGE  OF  BLAKELY— SECOND,  THIRD,  AND  FOURTH  DAYS. 

April  3 — Second  Day  of  the  Siege. — The  ground  lying  between 
the  combatants,  viewed  from  a  distance,  appeared  level,  but  it 
was  much  cut  up  by  ravines,  the  sides  of  which  were  scalloped 
with  numerous  and  deep  depressions.  Some  of  the  ravines  ran 
parallel  with'  the  confedsrate  works,  others  perpendicular  tc 
them,  and  affording  a  damaging  fire  for  their  artillery.  Along 
the  bottoms  of  the  principal  ravines  ran  clear  and  gurgling 
brooks,  half  concealed  by  the  luxuriant  bushes  and  vines,  and 
the  banks  of  which  were  marshy.  The  general  elevation  of  the 
ground  was  eighty  feet  above  the  water,  and  sixty  feet  was,  per 
haps,  the  greatest  depth  of  any  of  the  ravines. 

Where  the  Second  division  commenced  its  first  line  of  in- 
trenchments,  a  thousand  yards  from  the  main  line  of  the  con 
federates,  the  ground  was  a  little  higher  than  that  occupied  by 
the  latter  ;  and  from  that  position  there  was  a  gradual  decline 
for  three  hundred  yards  toward  the  front.  The  ground  occu 
pied  by  the  colored  division  was  about  on  a  level  with  the  con 
federate  works.  The  position  of  both  divisions  was  favorable  on 
two  accounts — it  was  in  the  woods,  and  there  was  an  abundance 
of  good  running  water. 

In  Hawkins'  division  the  work  of  intrenchmeiit  was  con 
tinued  ;  but  that  division  suffered  considerably  from  the  con 
federate  artillery,  and  especially  from  the  gunboats,  which,  to 
some  extent,  had  an  enfilading  fire.  Scofield's  brigade  was 
held  in  reserve ;  but  at  night  the  Fiftieth,  Col.  Gilchrist,  and 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  169 

the  Fifty-first,  Col.  Webber,  were  sent  to  the  front,  and  the 
brigade  commander  was  there  with  them  till  eleven,  p.  M.,  when 
the  work  was  ordered  discontinued. 

In  the  Second  division,  Moore's  brigade  closed  up  to  the 
right,  connecting  with  Spiceley's  brigade  ;  but  between  them 
was  a  wooded  ravine  and  running  stream.  The  latter  was 
bridged  during  the  day,  and  both  brigades  made  considerable 
progress  in  the  first  strong  and  continuous  line  of  intrench- 
ments. 

Spiceley's  brigade  was  extended  two  hundred  yards  to  the 
right  to  connect  with  Hawkins'  division.  And  in  the  evening 
the  skirmishers  of  that  brigade  gained  thirty  yards  to  the 
front,  and  established  new  detached  pits. 

The  camp  of  each  regiment  was  close  to  the  first  line  of 
intrenchments,  and  so  arranged  as  to  have  some  natural  shel 
ter  of  the  ground. 

In  Spiceley's  brigade,  the  Twenty-fourth  Indiana,  Lieut.-Col. 
Sears,  was  on  the  right.      Next,  on  the  left,  were  the  Sixty- 
seventh  Illinois,  Col.  Busey ;   the  Sixty-ninth  Indiana,  Lieut.- 
Col.    Perry ;     the   Seventy-sixth   Illinois,   Lieut.-Col.    Vifquain 
In  Moore's  brigade,  the  Eighty-third  Ohio,  Lieut.-Col.   Bald 
win,  was  on  the  right,  and  next  the  One  Hundred  and  Foui 
teenth  Ohio,  Col.  Kelly ;  the  Twentieth  Iowa,  Lieut.-Col.  Leake 
the  Thirty-seventh  Illinois,  Col.  Black  ;  and  the  Thirty-fourth 
Iowa,  Col.  Clark. 

The  casualties  in  the  division,  were  one  killed  and  five 
wounded.  Of  the  latter  was  Col.  Spiceley,  who  was  not, 
however,  stopped  from  his  active  duties. 

Toward  evening,  certain  movements  of  the  confederates  in 
front  of  Moore's  brigade,  excited  ths  suspicion  of  a  sortie, 
and  Hotchkiss'  Second  Connecticut  battery  was  sent  round  to 
the  left ;  but  it  did  not  go  into  position,  and  returned  to  its 
camp,  near  the  Stockton  road,  at  dark. 


170  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

Gen.  Steele  had  his  headquarters  at  O.  Sibley's.  The  head 
quarters  of  the  Second  division  were  move;l  from  near  the 
Stockton  road  to  a  ravine  at  a  point  six  hundred  yards  in 
rear  of  the  centre  of  the  division.  The  headquarters  of  the 
Colored  division  were  also  in  a  ravine  in  rear  of  about  the 
centre  of  the  division. 

Yeatch's  division,  of  the  Thirteenth  corps,  having  received 
Borders,  at  midnight  of  the  2d,  to  move  immediately  to  reinforce 
^Steele,  arrived  before  Blakely  at  daylight  of  the  3d  ;  and  in 
-course  of  the  forenoon  took  position,  with  a  brigade  front, 
across  the  Pensacola  road.  But  Garrard's  division,  of  the 
Sixteenth  corps,  having  also  come  up  from  C.  Sibley's  on  the 
3d,  went  into  position  on  the  left  of  the  Pensacola  road,  a 
thousand  yards  from  the  confederate  works,  Col.  Rinaker's 
brigade  being  on  the  right,  Gen.  Gilbert's  in  the  centre,  and 
Col.  Harris'  on  the  left.  Veatch's  division  was  then  withdrawn 
and  remained  near  O.  Sibley's,  as  a  reserve. 

During  the  ensuing  night,  Garrard's  division  covered  its  front 
with  a  line  of  rifle-pits,  and  the  skirmishers  of  each  brigade 
occupied  ground  some  distance  in  advance.  The  Tenth  Kansas, 
of  Gilbert's  brigade,  had  three  men  wounded,  one  mortally. 

In  Harris'  brigade,  the  Eleventh  Wisconsin  supported  the 
: skirmish  line,  and  kept  within  fifty  yards  of  it.  At  eleven,  p.  M., 
the  skirmish  line  was  warmly  engaged,  and  the  commanding 
•  officer  of  the  Eleventh  sent  forward  a  company  to  reinforce  it. 
At  the  same  time  he  received  information  that  the  confederates 
had  come  out  of  their  works,  and  were  flanking  the  skirmishers 
•on  the  left.  He  then  sent  Companies  E  and  G  to  protect  the 
iflank. 

The  firing  continued  through  the  night,  but  darkness  deprived 
it  of  effect,  except  to  weary  both  sides  equally  and  hold  each 
.other  at  bay. 

During  the  day  the  sharpshooters  of  the  confederates  main- 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  171 

Gained  a  watchful  fire,  and  at  intervals  their  artillery  was  sharp 
and  savage.  They  had  already  disabled  two  guns  by  firing, 
and  the  commander  sent  for  more.1 

April  4 — Third  Day  of  Siege  of  Blaltely. — In  the  Second 
division,  the  work  progressed  on  the  first  and  second  lines  of 
intreiichments,  and  the  same  was  occurring  on  Hawkins'  left. 
In  the  afternoon,  both  divisions  got  a  new  supply  of  intrenching 
tools,  and  the  work  went  on  faster.  Toward  evening,  the 
Second  division  was  preparing  to  advance  its  skirmish-line. 
Soon  after  five,  the  men  cheered,  on  account  of  the  grand 
bombardment  of  Spanish  fort,  the  mighty  clamor  of  which 
was  plainly  heard.  The  shouts  from  many  thousand  voices 
made  the  confederates  think  that  they  were  going  to  be  as 
saulted,  and  at  sight  of  the  skirmish -line  of  Moore's  brigade 
they  fell  back  rapidly  to  an  interior  line  of  pits,  so  that  Moore's 
skirmishers,  consisting  of  details  from  each  regiment  of  the 
brigade,  advanced  nearly  three  hundred  yards  without  resist 
ance.  This  carried  his  line  out  of  the  woods,  and  upon  a  sort 
of  plateau  on  a  level  with  the  garrison's  main  works,  and  only 
five  hundred  yards  distant  therefrom.  Intrenchments  were 
then  commenced  on  the  line  thus  gained  and  continued,  but 
the  work  was  difficult,  for  there  were  numerous  stumps,  and 
the  surface  was  strewn  with  fallen  pines. 

In  front  of  Spiceley's  brigade  the  ground  was  more  earnestly 

1  Lidett  to  Maury :  ^  April  3. — No  change  of  importance  here.  Much  firing 
and  some  shelling  during  night,  upon  enemy  attempting  to  establish  line  of 
skirmish  pits." 

Same  to  Same :  "  April  3. — Will  you  send  another  ;  Blakely'  gun,  in  place  of 
one  which  exploded  at  the  muzzle  to-day  ?" 

Same  to  Same:  "April  3,  8:45  p.  M.— Please  send  me  the  Blakely  gun  as 
Boon  as  possible,  as  two  of  the  guns  on  this  line  have  been  disabled  and  sent 
to  Mobile  for  repairs.  Enemy  made  an  attempt  to  establish  their  picket  line 
on  our  centre  just  at  dark." 

Same  to  Same :  "April  3,  8:45  p.  M. — Please  send  me,  by  first  boat,  a  quantity 
of  two-inch  plank,  oak  if  possible,  to  make  screens  for  the  guns." 


172  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

contested,  and  his  skirmishes  gained  only  one  hundred  and 
fifty  yards.  In  making  the  advance  Sergeant  J.  W.  Ficklin, 
of  the  Twenty-fourth  Indiana,  exhibited  special  gallantry.  No 
loss  was  then  suffered.  Later  in  the  evenining  Corporal  Haw 
kins  of  the  Twenty-fourth  was  wounded. 

In  Pile's  and  Seofield's  front  of  Hawkins'  division,  the  line?; 
were  advanced  about  two  hundred  yards.  But  that  division 
suffered  severe  loss  as  well  from  the  gunboats  as  the  sharp 
shooters  and  artillerists  in  front. 

Up  to  this  time  no  artillery  had  been  used  by  the  besiegers. 
But  during  the  night  a  sunken  battery,  with  good  cover  for  the 
gunners,  was  made  on  the  Stockton  road  on  a  line  with  the  first 
parallel,  for  one  of  the  ten-pounder  rifles  of  the  Second  Connect 
icut  battery.  The  gun,  with  full  detachment  under  Lieut.  Gray, 
was  put  in  position  sometime  after  midnight,  being  hauled  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  by  hand. 

At  nine,  P.  M.,  Dennis'  brigade,  of  Veatch's  division,  moved 
to  the  front  and  occupied  the  ground  between  the  Second  divis 
ion  and  the  Pensacola  road  connecting  with  Garrard's  right. 

In  the  morning,  Garrard's  division  advanced  its  skirmishers 
still  farther  to  the  front.  In  Gilbert's  brigade  the  skirmish  line 
was  commanded  by  Maj.  H.  S.  Bailey,  Sixth  Minnesota,  and  in 
the  movement  two  were  killed  and  several  wounded.  Maj. 
Bailey  had  a  rib  fractured  by  a  piece  of  shell.  Lieut.  Gresham 
of  the  Sixth  Minnesota  was  slightly  wounded.  In  Harris' 
brigade  the  Fifty-second  Indiana  and  Fifty-eighth  Illinois 
were  on  the  front  line,  also  ono  company  of  the  Eleventh  Wis 
consin  as  sharpshooters.  Two  deserters  from  the  confederates 
came  in  and  were  taken  by  Lieut.  Leonard,  adjutant  of  the 
Fifty-second  Indiana,  to  the  brigade  commander.  They  related 
that  Blakely  was  garrisoned  by  three  thousand  five  hundred 
men,  and  that  labor  was  still  being  done  on  the  works. 

In  course  of  the  day/Gen.  Steele's  chief  of  staff,  Lieut.-CoJ. 


- 


i  I    I'     Pjl    -I   Hi         ' 

|j||||||, 

riinlill  •lii^ilii'vi 

'lg!;ill'li^,'!i: 


B>  .  ., 

'i!!'.1'  .'.'•     M 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  173 

Whittlesey,  was  on  the  front  line,  making  observations,  and  com 
ing  to  where  the  Fifty-second  Indiana  was  posted,  he  advanced 
fifty  yards  in  front  of  the  skirmish  line  to  an  old  log  building, 
which  had  been  used  as  a  barrack,  and  climbed  upon  the  rafters 
to  get  a  good  view.  Being  seen  by  the  enemy,  their  artillery 
soon  opened  on  him,  and  shells  exploded  above  and  around  him, 
and  through  the  house  beneath,  yet  he  continued  to  write  in  his 
note-book  as  if  nothing  was  happening,  till  he  had  finished  his 
observations,  and  then  descended  and  left. 

Lidell  reported  his  loss  on  the  4th,  two  killed  and  twelve 
wounded. 

April  5 — Fourth  Day. — At  the  break  of  day,  just  as  soon  as 
the  confederate  works  could  be  seen,  Lieut.  Gray  opened  with 
the  ten-pounder  of  the  Second  Connecticut,  from  the  Stockton 
road,  firing  obliquely  at  the  work  immediately  south  of  that 
road,  which  indeed  was  the  most  prominent  point  of  resistance, 
on  the  confederate  line.  Thirty  rounds  were  fired  before  there 
was'  any  reply,  then  the  response  was  warm.  Lieut.  Gray  con 
tinued  at  intervals  to  fire  during  the  day  and  battered  down  one 
of  the  embrasures  of  the*  assailed  redoubt.  Six  confederate 
guns  were  brought  to  bear  on  his  snug  baitery,  and  the  explo 
sions  around  it  were  frequent  and  close,  but  hurt  not  a  man.  At 
night  the  damage  to  the  work  was  repaired. 

Separate  batteries  for  two  more  of  Hotckkiss'  guns  were  being 
built  on  the  left  of  the  Stockton  road,  and  farther  to  the  front 
than  Lieut.  Gray's.  At  night  a  battery  was  commenced  near 
the  right  of  Moore's  brigade,  for  the  Fifteenth  Massachusetts. 

In  the  evening  the  skirmish  line  of  Spiceley's  brigade  ad 
vanced  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards,  and  intrenched  within 
eighty  yards  of  the  confederate  rifle-pits,  which  had  a  distinct 
line  of  abatis  for  cover.  In  front  of  Moore's  brigade  the  skir 
mishers  were  forty  yards  in  advance  of  the  tine  gained  the  pre 
vious  evening,  making  their  way  as  best  they  could  through  the 


174:  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

network  of  pine  logs,  and  being  within  one  hundred  and  six  try 
yards  of  the  well-fortified  confederate  sharpshooters. 

Both  brigades  now  had  two  well-built  lines  of  intrenchment 
with  safe  approaches.  The  men  were  advancing  steadily  and 
sure,  and  casualties,  though  generally  fatal,  were  not  numerous. 
The  whole  loss  in  the  Second  division  during  the  day  was  three 
killed  and  one  wounded  ;  namely,  killed ;  Sergeant  S.  G.  Harter, 
Sixty-ninth  Indiana,  Privates  C.  Grove  and  "W.  L.  Johnson, 
Twenty-fourth  Indiana ;  wounded,  Thos.  McGovern,  One  Hun 
dred  and  Fourteenth  Ohio. 

In  Hawkins'  division,  on  the  right,  there  was  an  apprehension 
at  night  of  a  sortie,  and  at  nine,  P.  M.,  the  Third  brigade  (Lieut.- 
Col.  Kinsey  commanding)  of  Veatch's  division,  marched  out  in 
rear  of  Hawkins  as  a  reinforcement. 

In  Veatch's  front,  the  Eighth  Illinois  was  on  the  skirmish- 
line,  and  had  one  man  wounded.  At  nine,  p.  M.,  it  was  relieved 
by  the  Forty-sixth  Illinois,  Col.  Dornblaser  commanding,  who 
sent  out  two  full  companies  as  skirmishers.  The  right  of  the 
line  was  then  advanced  twenty-five  yards,  to  connect  with  the 
left  of  the  Second  division,  and  the  left  was  carried  forward  one 
hundred  yards,  meeting  with  little  opposition. 

In  Garrard's  division,  on  the  left,  some  advance  was  made  in 
front  of  Harris'  brigade.  The  Thirty -fourth  New  Jersey  was  on 
the  skirmish-line ;  but  the  left  of  that  line  was  occupied  by 
Company  E,  Eleventh  Wisconsin,  under  command  of  Lieut. 
McDonald.  During  the  night,  the  latter  officer,  with  a  few 
men,  moved. forward,  across  a  ravine  covered  with  slashings,  to 
open  ground,  and  intrenched  a  short  distance  from  the  con 
federate  rifle-pits,  and  held  his  position  successfully  against 
warm  resistance. 

In  the  afternoon,  the  position  of  Rinaker's  brigade  of  Gar- 
rard's  division  was  changed  from  the  right  to  the  left,  but  the 
camps  were  not  moved  till  the  succeeding  day.  At  five,  P.  M. 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  175 

Maj.  Winter,  of  the  Eighty-ninth  Indiana,  with  five  hundred 
men  of  that  brigade,  moved  down  to  the  left  through  the  woods. 
to  complete  the  investment  of  Blakely,  connecting  with  the  left 
of  Harris'  brigade,  and  extending  as  nea.r  the  river  as  practica 
ble.  On  that  part  of  the  ground  the  woods  extended  to  within 
four  hundred  yards  of  the  right  of  the  confederate  works,  and 
to  a  stream  running  parallel  with  them,  and  the  banks  of  which 
were  thickly  wooded.  About  opposite  the  eighth  redoubt  of  the 
confederates,  that  stream  assumes  the  character  of  a  swamp, 
widening  as  it  approaches  the  river.  It  is  thickly  covered  with 
trees,  and  the  water  is  a  foot  deep.  At  sunset,  Maj.  Winter  de 
ployed  one  hundred  men,  six  paces  apart,  and  holding  four  hun 
dred  as  reserve,  moved  to  the  front.  His  left  passed  over  a  small 
field,  and  then  the  line  began  to  descend  a  hill-side,  and  was  soon 
struggling  across  the  stream  and  swampy  ground.  They  were 
then  greeted  by  one  or  two  volleys  from  the  brow  of  the  high 
ground,  two  hundred  yards  in  front  of  them.  They  pressed 
on,  and  emerging  from  the  woods  and  tangled  underbrush, 
came  out  where  the  trees  had  been  felled,  and  began  to  ascend 
the  rise  of  ground,  and  reaching  the  brow,  the  men  on  his 
left  were  within  two  hundred  yards  of  the  garrison's  main 
works.  Maj.  Winter  observed  that  his  right  did  not  connect 
with  the  skirmish  line  of  Harris'  brigade,  but  that  he  was 
considerably  to  the  left  and  in  advance  of  it,  and  being  also 
in  some  danger  from  the  fire  of  that  line,  he  sent  Capt.  Hub- 
bard,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Nineteenth  Illinois,  to  notify 
its  commander  of  his  position.  Maj.  Winter  had  now  gained 
a  most  important  position,  it  being  considerably  nearer  to  the 
garrison  works  than  any  other  part  of  the  besiegers'  line.  It 
was,  of  course,  too  good  a  position  to  expect  to  hold  with  ease. 
A  fire  of  artillery  and  musketry  was  opened  on  him,  and,  un 
fortunately,  he  ordered  a  retreat.  He  withdrew  his  line  over 
the  stream,  and  commenced  fortifying  several  hundred  yards  to 
the  rear. 


176  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

When  Capt.  Hubbard  returned,  he  was  surprised  to  find  only 
the  first  sergeant  and  seventeen  men  of  his  own  company,  who 
had  halted  at  the  edge  of  the  stream  to  wait  for  him.  He 
thought  a  key  position  had  been  given  up.  Then  posting  his 
few  men  as  securely  as  possible  behind  logs,  he  went  to  find 
the  reserve  ;  and,  after  some  persuasion,  got  permission  to  have 
Gapt.  Chubb's  company,  of  the  Eighty-ninth  Indiana,  go  to 
the  front  and  join  his  left.  Maj.  Winter,  at  the  same  time, 
advanced  his  reserve,  and  intrenched  on  the  high  ground  in 
rear  of  the  stream,  near  w7here  an  old  road  passes  which  leads 
into  Blakely.  The  companies  of  Capts.  Chubb  and  Hubbard 
took  position  north  of  that  road.  It  was  about  eleven  o'clock 
when  Lieut.  McDonald  of  the  Eleventh  Wisconsin  made  the 
advance  before  mentioned,  and  joined  their  right.  Soon  after, 
Capt.  Hubbard  brought  forward  a  company  of  reserves  with 
shovels,  and,  sending  his  own  men  a  little  in  advance,  com 
menced  digging  rifle-pits. 

Lucas,  with  his  cavalry,  marched  to  occupy  Clairborne,  on  the 
Alabama.  During  the  day  the  besiegers  heard  of  the  fall  of 
Selma. 

The  loss  in  the  garrison,  on  the  5th,  was  reported  to  be  one 
killed  and  twelve  wounded.  Lidell  sent  to  Spanish  fort  for 
sharpshooters  armed  with  the  Whitworth  rifles,1  and  reported 
that  he  had  men  killed  and  wounded  at  the  Blakely  wharf  by 

1  Lidell  to  Maury :  "April  5 The  enemy  have  erected  a  battery  on 

my  left — have  fired  occasionally  from  it.  Quite  heavy  skirmishing  in  my 
front." 

Lidell  to  Gibson :  "  April  5. — I  am  much  in  need  of  sharpshooters.  Send 
me  the  Whitworth  riflemen,  or  half  of  them,  if  you  cannot  spare  all.  The 
enemy  are  very  near  you,  and  here  they  are  at  some  distance,  but  with  their 
sharpshooters  kill  and  wound  men  at  the  Blakely  wharf.  1  will  send  you  five 
other  men." 

Gen.  Lidell  to  Maj.  Myers,  Ord.  Officer :  "  April  5. — I  wish  two  hundred 
feet  of  three-inch  rope  to  parbuckle  a  large  gun  in  position,  and  have  it  on 
band  whenever  it  may  be  needed." 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  177 

the  besiegers'  sharpshooters.  On  account  of  limited  supply 
of  ammunition  he  directed  the  firing  to  be  restricted  to  a  few 
picked  skirmishers.  He  also  sent  for  fireballs  to  light  up  his 
front,  and  enable  him  to  use  his  artillery  with  more  effect  in 
the  night.1 

1  Lidell  to  Myers :  "April  5. — Have  made  for  me  as  soon  as  possible  some  fire 
balls  for  twenty-four-pounder  cohorn  mortars.  The  enemy  are  trying  to  advance 
their  lines  during  the  night,  and  I  want  to  light  up  the  front  of  our  works,  in 
order  to  see  their  positions,  and  allow  the  artillery  to  be  used  with  effect." 

12 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

SIEGE  OF  BLAKELY— FIFTH,  SIXTH,  AND  SEVENTH  DAYS. 

April  6 — The  Fifth  Day. — At  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  6th,  the  garrison  made  a  sortie  from  opposite  their  fourth 
redoubt  down  to  their  right,  advancing  a  line  with  much  noise 
and  shouting,  for  the  purpose,  as  it  appeared,  of  dislodging  the 
besiegers'  skirmishers.  No  ground,  however,  was  lost  by  the 
besiegers,  yet  a  noisy  combat  of  musketry  ensued,  lasting  for 
an  hour ;  and  above  all  the  turmoil  roared  the  garrison's 
artillery.  On  the  extreme  left  of  the  besiegers,  where  were 
Capt.  Chubb's  company  of  the  Eighty-ninth  Indiana,  Capt. 
Hubbard's  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Nineteenth  Illinois,  and 
Lieut.  McDonald's  of  the  Eleventh  Wisconsin,  the  charging 
party  came  up  within  a  few  feet  of  the  newly-dug  pits,  but 
finding  them  resolutely  occupied  had  to  give  way.  Lieut. 
McDonald  had  with  him  Sergeant  Moore  and  about  a  dozen 
men.  Being  hard  pressed,  he  undertook  to  awe  his  assail 
ants  by  a  stratagem,  and  called  out  "First  and  Second  brigade 
supports,  forward!"  which  had  a  good  effect. 

In  front  of  Moore's  brigade  of  the  Second  division,  the  attack 
appeared  to  be  mainly  against  the  working  party  on  the  battery 
which  was  being  made  for  the  Fifteenth  Massachusetts.  The 
atmosphere  being  thick  and  heavy,  the  sound  of  the  musketry 
seemed  closer  than  usual.  The  darkness  was  also  complete, 
and,  it  being  known  how  tired  and  worn  the  men  were,  there 
was  some  uneasiness  felt  at  the  division  headquarters  lest  some 
part  of  the  line  had  been  forced  back.  Lieut.  Pettibone,  aide- 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  179 

de-camp,  hastened  down  to  the  front  line   alone,  and  brought 
back  the  pleasing  intelligence  that  everything  was  right. 

In  Garrard's  division,  a  position  about  three  hundred  yards 
farther  in  advance  was  gained  in  front  of  Gilbert's  and  Harris' 
brigades.  The  advance  was  made  at  midnight.  In  front  of 
Harris'  brigade;  the  force  consisted  of  Companies  A,  C,  and  H, 
from  the  Eleventh  Wisconsin,  under  Capt.  Lang,  and  the  One 
Hundred  and  Seventy-eighth  New  York,  and  was  commanded 
by  Lieut.-Col.  J.  B.  Gondalfo,  of  the  latter  regiment.  In  front 
of  Gilbert's  brigade,  it  consisted  of  companies  from  the  Tenth 
Kansas  and  Thirty-second  Iowa,  and  was  commanded  by  Major 
Hutchinson,  of  the  Thirty-second.  Each  man  was  provided 
\\ith  a  spade,  and,  at  the  given  signal,  the  line  advanced  in 
good  shape,  though  opposed  by  a  sharp  fire.  Some  two  hun 
dred  and  fifty  yards  were  gained  by  Lieut.-Col.  Gondalfo,  which 
brought  him  about  six  hundred  yards  from  the  garrison's  main 
works.  The  loss  in  his  line  was  one  killed  and  four  wounded. 
Major  Hutchinson  was  ordered  to  advance  three  hundred  yards, 
which  would  bring  his  line  also  six  hundred  yards  from  the 
main  works  of  the  garrison.  He  performed  the  duty  in  a  truly 
soldierlike  manner.  His  men  bein'g  .deployed  and  in  line,  he 
placed  himself  on  their  right,  and,  moving  forward  with  them, 
caused  them  to  dress  on  him,  he  at  the  same  time  counting  the 
paces  as  he  marched  along,  and  going  till  he  had  got  the  -full 
and  required  distance.  His  course  lay  near  the  Pensacola  and 
Blakely  road.  Having  gained  the  required  distance,  the  whole 
line  commenced  a  rifle-pit. 

On  the  left  of  Harris'  front,  Company  F,  Lieut.  McConnell, 
of  the  Eleventh  Wisconsin,  was  posted  on  the  opposite  side  of 
a  ravine ;  and  being  isolated  from  the  line  on  his  right,  Com 
pany  H,  of  the  Eleventh,  was  sent  to  his  support,  and  Company 
G,  of  the  same  regiment,  was  also  sent  to  fill  up  the  gap  be 
tween  him  and  the  companies  on  his  right.  The  balance  of  the 


180  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

Eleventh  was  held  in  reserve  occupying  the  trenches  vacated 
by  the  skirmish-line. 

Work  was  also  being  done  in  Garrard's  division,  for  a  battery 
for  the  Seventeenth  Ohio. 

All  along  the  line  of  the  besiegers,  the  work  of  opening  or 
widening  trenches  and  approaches  was  progressing  with  vigor. 

In  the  Second  division,  front,  two  additional  separate  batter 
ies  being  finished  for  the  ten-pounder  rifles  of  the  Second  Con 
necticut,  two  more  guns  of  that  battery  opened  at  daylight,  one 
being  under  command  of  Lieut.  Whitney,  the  other  under  Lieut. 
Hanley.  Both  these  guns  as  well  as  the  one  under  Lieut.  Gray, 
were  served  with  effect.  In  the  morning  Corporal  Beecher  with 
one  of  the  guns  last  in  position,  fired  at  the  colors  in  the  Stock 
ton  road  redoubt  (No.  4),  and  caused  the  speedy  removal  of  a 
couple  of  tents. 

The  loss  in  the  Second  Division  was  only  four  wounded. 

The  artillery  firing  by  the  garrison  during  the  forenoon  was 
fierce.  Gen.  Lidell  reported  that  there  was  constant  firing  du 
ring  the  night,  and  that  he  had  several  men  wounded  in  the 
night  by  stray  shots.1  He  asked  for  a  company  of  sappers  and 
miners.  He  also  expected  the  besiegers  would  open  the  next 
morning  with  artillery  from  five  different  positions. a  At  eleven, 
r.  M.,  he  requested  the  captain  of  the  Morgan  to  send  two  small 
boats  under  charge  of  a  commissioned  officer  to  picket  the 
mouth  of  the  bayou,  just  below  his  right  flank,  and  the  lower 
mouth  of  the  bayou,  near  Bay  Minette. 

April    1 — Sixth    Day. — Just    before    daylight    the    garrison 


1  Liddl  to  Col  Garner,  Chief  of  Staff:  "  Blakely,  April  6.— Enemy  at  this 
place  keeps  up  a  constant  firing  throughout  the  night  with  skirmishers,  and  is 
busily  engaged  erecting  his  batteries.     Several  men  wounded  during  the  night 
by  stray  shots." 

2  Lidell  to  Mauri/:  "  April  6,  7:40  P.  M It  is  very  probable  the  enemy 

will  open  upon  us  early  in  the  morning  from  five  different  positions. 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  181 

made  another  sortie  against  the  advance  line  of  the  troops  of 
the  Thirteenth  and  Sixteenth  corps.  They  came  out  apparently 
in  strong  force,  delivering  repeated  volleys  and  charging  with 
cheers  up  to  the  pits  of  the  federals.  The  artillery  also  per 
formed  its  part,  and  for  two  miles  along  the  line  the  tumult  of 
the  roar  of  musketry  and  cannonading  was  startling.  At  such 
an  hour  was  felt  how  much  depended  on  the  steadfast  soldier 
ship  and  activity  of  a  few  men  at  the  front.  The  confederates 
were  repulsed,  and  it  was  reported  with  unusual  loss.1  The  loss 
in  the  Tenth  Kansas  was  one  killed.  In  the  Fifty-second  Indi 
ana,  two  wounded.  The  five  companies  of  the  latter  regiment 
expended  during  the  night  about  seven  thousand  rounds  of  car 
tridges  and  the  firing  was  probably  in  the  same  proportion  on 
other  parts  of  the  line.  In  front  of  Einaker's  brigade,  Lieut. 
Col.  Taylor,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Nineteenth  Elinois,  was  in 
command  of  the  skirmish-line  and  advanced  the  left  of  it  acroso 
the  stream  and  swamp  and  had  some  pits  dug. 

During  the  afternoon  of  the  7th  and  the  succeeding  evening, 
rain  fell ;  the  air  was  chilly,  and  duty  in  the  muddy  trenches 
was  uncomfortable. 

Yeatch's  front  was  occupied  by  Dennis'  brigade.  The  Twen 
ty-third  Wisconsin  was  engaged  in  making  a  battery  in  Haw- 
kins'  front,  and  lost  one  man  killed  and  four  wounded. 

On  the  right  of  Hawkins,  at  the  edge  of  the  bluff,  a  fine 
battery  was  being  constructed  for  five  thirty-pounder  Parrotts, 
under  the  direction  of  Capt.  Newton,  assistant-engineer,  to  drive 
off  the  gunboats.  Large  details  from  the  Colored  division  were 
constantly  at  work  on  it,  yet  many  of  the  gabions  and  fascines 
were  being  made  by  details  from  Yeatch's  division.  Working 
parties  on  the  battery  were  concealed  from  the  gunboats  by 
the  large  forest-trees  along  the  brow  of  the  bluff. 

1  A  report,  afterward  captured,  of  Col.  Laws,  Second  Alabama  reserves, 
showed  that  his  loss  was  fifteen  killed  and  twenty-two  wounded. 


182  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

The  night  attack  had  interfered  with  the  labor  on  the  bat 
tery  for  the  twelve-pounder  Napoleons  of  the  Fifteenth  Massa 
chusetts  on  the  left  centre  of  the  Second  division,  and  it  was 
not  entirely  finished  at  daylight  of  the  7th.  Lieut.  Bowse  com 
manding  the  battery,  hoy/ever,  had  four  guns  in  position  and 
at  that  time  opened  fire.  The  redoubt  opposite  him  was  only 
five  hundred  yards  distant  and  had  two  light  steel  rifled  guns 
and  a  twelve-pounder  howitzer,  while  eleven  hundred  yards  ob 
liquely  to  his  left  was  a  thirty -pounder  Parrott ;  and  there  were 
several  other  guns  in  his  front.  The  confederates  returned  an 
accurate  and  severe  fire,  filling  up  the  embrasures  and  silencing 
the  Fifteenth  in  a  short  time.  The  gunners  of  the  Fifteenth 
Massachusetts  clung  to  their  work  with  gallantry.  Corporals 
Clark,  Essex,  and  Gove,  were  mentioned  for  good  behavior. 
Private  George  K.  Cooney  jumped  up  into  the  embrasure  to 
clear  out  the  obstructions  and  was  seriously  wounded.  Two 
others  were  wounded.  None  of  the  guns,  however,  were  injured. 
Work  continued  on  the  battery  the  ensuing  night. 

The  three  ten-pounders  of  the  Second  Connecticut  continued 
to  do  good  service  and  remained  uninjured. 

In  Moore's  brigade  of  the  Second  division,  tho  third  parallel 
was  widened  to  from  six  to  eight  feet,  and  from  its  left  an 
approach  was  being  carried  forward  by  the  Thirty-seventh 
Illinois,  under  the  personal  direction  of  its  commanding  officer, 
Col.  Black,  and  was  then  thirty  yards  to  the  front. 

In  Spiceley's  brigade,  the  third  parallel  was  opened  one 
hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the  left,  along  a  crest,  connecting 
with  an  approach  which  had  been  finished  the  preceding  day. 
This  third  line  was  only  about  five  hundred  yards  from  the  con 
federate  works,  and  was  subject  to  dangerous  fire  from  sharp 
shooters  strongly  posted  on  the  brow  of  a  ravine,  off  to  the  left. 
Only  one  man  worked  in  the  trench  at  a  time.  Lieut.-Col. 
Vifquain  and  Capt.  Howard,  of  the  Ninety-seventh  Illinois, 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  183 

having  been  specially  detailed,  were  superintending  the  con 
struction  of  the  rifle-pits  and  approaches  in  that  brigade. 

The  loss  in  the  division  was  five  wounded. 

Operations  of  the  Cavalry. — Gen.  Steele  having  directed 
Lieut.-Col.  Spurling  to  break  up  a  party  of  confederates  who 
were  hovering  in  the  rear,  the  latter  started  out  in  the  morning 
on  that  enterprise,  with  twenty  picked  men.  They  disguised 
themselves  in  confederate  uniform,  and  the  neighboring  citizens, 
supposing  them  to  be  confederates,  informed  Spurling  that 
Capt.  Dupree  and  Lieut.  Fitzgerald,  with  twelve  men,  would  be 
at  a  certain  house  at  one  o'clock,  P.  M.,  for  the  purpose  of  cap 
turing  some  "Yankees"  who  were  in  the  habit  of  visiting  there. 
Spurling  then  moved  on,  and  met  the  party  near  the  house  in 
question,  attacked  them,  killed  one  and  wounded  one,  and  cap 
tured  the  captain,  lieutenant,  and  seven  men. 

In  the  garrison,  three  siege  guns  were  put  in  position.  The 
Yll-inch  guns  were  waiting  for  platforms.  New  skirmish-pits 
were  made  at  night.  The  commander  reporte^l  that  he"  had 
not  men  enough  to  occupy  the  whole  line,  and  asked  that  a 
hundred  negroes  might  be  sent  him  for  fatigue  duty. * 

The  garrison  was  notified  that  at  eight  o'clock  on  the  follow 
ing  morning  their  artillery  would  open  at  all  points  against  the 
besiegers,  and  the  skirmishers  were  enjoined  to  take  all  possible 
advantage  in  their  firing.2 


1  Lidell  to  Maury :  ''April  7. — Three  siege  guns  are  in  position  and  will  be 
ready  for  use  to-inorrow  morning.     The  heavy  guns  will  be  delayed,  for  want 
of  platforms  and  all  necessary  appliances.    Have  not  sufficient  men  to  occupy 
the  whole  line  ;  hence  the  labor  of  digging,  and  duty  in  skirmish  pits,  is  very 
hard  upon  the  men.    If  you  could  spare  me  a  hundred  negroes  for  a  few  nights, 
I  could  get  all  the  approaches  and  traverses  constructed  promptly  and  save  the 
men.    It  is  better  to  use  them  than  to  lose  them.'' 

2  Capt.  Lewis  (A.  A.  Gr.),  to  Gens.  Gockrell  and  Tliomas :  "  April  7. — Gen. 
Lidell  directs  me  to  inform  you,  that  at  eight,  A.  M.,  to-morrow,  our  artillery 
will  open  upon  the  enemy  at  all  points  along  our  lines  ;  and  he  directs  that 


134  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

Bat  ween  the  skirmishers  of  Garrard's  division,  of  the  Six 
teenth  corps,  and  of  Thomas'  Alabama  reserves,  a  system  of 
intercourse  had  grown  up,  which  the  garrison  commander  justly 
condsmned.  The  men  on  the  skirmish  line  made  truces  of  some 
hours'  length,  during  which  they  would  meet  and  converse  in  a 
friendly  manner,  often  discussing  public  questions  relating  to 
the  war.  They  would  also  exchange  newspapers,  and  trade 
coffee  and  sugar  for  tobacco.  They  agreed  also  that  there 
should  be  no  firing  while  the  skirmish-line  was  being  relieved. 
Then  when  they  resumed  their  places,  it  would  sometimes  hap 
pen  that  one  or  the  other  would  call  out  to  warn  his  adversary 
that  he  was  about  to  fire.  The  garrison  commander  learned 
that  the  Sixteenth  corps  men  were  "  very  bold,"  and  that  they 
exposed  themselves  "  without  being  fired  upon  with  sufficient 
effect  to  make  them  timid."  To  abate  the  mischief,  he  directed 
Gen.  Thomas,  commanding  the  reserves,  to  send  a  company  to 
report  to  Gen.  Cockrell,  to  exchange  for  a  company  of  his  com 
mand,"  and  that  the  old  soldiers  of  Cockrell's  division  should  be 
scattered  in  the  skirmish  pits  with  Thomas'  men.1 

April  8 — Seventh  Day  of  the  Siege. — At  one  o'clock  the 
morning  of  the  8th,  the  garrison,  with  their  usual  enterprise 
advanced  a  strong  skirmish-line,  covered  by  the  fire  of  artillery, 
against  Veatch's  front,  and  the  right  of  the  Second  division, 


you  order  your  skirmishers  to  take  all  advantage  possible  of  firing  upon  the 
enemy's  skirmishers  and  artillerists,  when  the  salvo  is  made." 

1  Capt.  Butler  (A.  A.  A.  G.},  to  Gen.  Thomas  :  "April  7.— Gen.  Lidell  directs 
me  to  say,  that  he  did  not  recollect  the  reported  capture  of  the  second  pit. 
He  has  been  informed  that  the  enemy  in  your  front  is  very  bold,  and  that  his 
r/ien  expose  themselves  without  being  fired  upon  with  sufficient  effect  to  make 
them  timid.  He  wishes  you  to  caution  your  skirmishers  to  use  their  utmost 
vigilance  in  preventing  the  encroachments  of  the  enemy,  and  directs  that  you 
send  one  company  to  report  to  Gen.  Cockrell,  to  exchange  for  a  company  of  his 
command,  and  he  wishes  you  to  scatter  these  old  soldiers  about  in  the  skir 
mish  pits  with  your  men  along  the  front  where  tne  enemy  is  now  attacking." 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  185 

usin£,  in  front  of  the  latter  a  blue  light  for  a  signal.  The  move 
ment  was  repulsed  successfully ;  but  an  alarm  was  caused  all 
along  the  line,  and  for  an  hour  the  firing  was  heavy,  especially 
in  front  of  the  Colored  division.  Gen.  Osterhaus,  chief  of  staff, 
rode  up  from  Spanish  fcrt,  to  ascertain  what1  was  going  on  ;  and 
Gen.  Caiiby  telegraphed  to  Steele  for  the  same  object.  The 
latter  replied  that  nothing  unusual  was  occurring. 

In  Veatch's  front  the  Ninety-ninth  Illinois  had  three  men 
wounded  in  the  affair,  and  there  were  slight  casualties  on  other 
parts  of  the  line. 

On  Garrard's  left,  where  the  One  Hundred  and  Nineteenth 
Illinois  was  on  duty  at  the  front,  the  first  line  of  rifle-pits 
beyond  the  stream  having  been  made  a  few  yards  back  from 
the  brow  of  the  hill,  a  new  line  of  pits  was  made  some 
sixty  or  seventy  yards  in  advance.  In  the  night  the  skir 
mishers  moved  into  the  new  trench  to  give  it  a  trial,  and 
having  fired  a  few  shots  to  draw  the  fire  of  the  confederates 
and  then  giving  them  a  volley  aimed  at  the  blaze  of  their 
muskets,  the  One  Hundred  and  Nineteenth  men  raised  a  yell 
as  if  intending  to  charge.  They  heard  the  fire  taken  up  all 
along  the  line,  the  artillery  firing  on  both  sides,  and  also  the 
confederate  gun-boats ;  and  they  thought  their  volley  and  shouts 
caused  all  the  tumult. 

At  eight  in  the  forenoon,  the  garrison  opened  with  all  their 
artillery,  and  fired  with  uncommon  vehemence  for  an  hour. 
The  shells  frequently  struck  the  parapets  of  the  besiegers'  rifle- 
pits  and  exploded  over  them.  There  were  many  narrow  escapes, 
but  few  casualties.  Their  fire  was  replied  to  in  Garrard's  front 
by  the  Seventeenth  Ohio  light  battery ;  and  in  Hawkins'  front 
by  two  guns  of  the  Second  Massachusetts,  under  Lieut.  Swan. 
The  battery  for  the  Fifteenth  Massachusetts  was  in  such  condi 
tion  that  four  of  its  guns  could  be  served  in  it  with  safety,  and 
they  renewed  their  fire  with  effect.  The  three  guns  of  the  Second 


186  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

Connecticut  were  also  engaged.  In  course  of  the  day  the  one  on 
the  left,  and  farthest  to  the  front,  was  disabled  by  its  own  recoil. 

When  the  engagement  was  hottest,  Col.  Matthews,  of  the 
Ninety-ninth  Illinois,  in  Yeatch's  front,  saw  a  confederate  flag 
inside  the  garrison  in  his  immediate  front,  and  he  at  once  caused 
his  regimental  colors  to  be  planted  on  the  parapet  of  the  works 
he  occupied.  This  induced  a  livelier  fire,  and  once  his  colors 
were  knocked  down  by  a  shot,  which,  at  the  same  time,  com 
pletely  covered  three  of  his  men  with  earth. 

Many  of  the  shots,  aimed  at  the  Fifteenth  Massachusetts 
battery,  passed  over  and  struck  about  the  camp  of  Moore's 
brigade,  and  would  have  done  much  injury  if  the  men  had  not 
been  well  protected  by  their  earthworks.  A  shell  passed  close 
to  Lieut.-Col.  Baldwin,  of  the  Eighty-third  Ohio,  and  tore  down 
a  part  of  his  quarters. 

Work  in  advancing  the  trenches  was  steadily  progressing  on 
all  parts  of  the  besiegers'  front.  On  the  extreme  left,  Maj. 
Chapman,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-second  Illinois,  was 
in  command  of  the  skirmish-line,  and  caused  new  pits  to  be  dug 
farther  to  the  left  and  to  the  front.  At  one  point,  his  men  occu 
pied  a  position  within  fifteen  yards  of  a  rifle-pit  of  the  con 
federates. 

During  the  day,  orders  were  received  by  the  Second  division 
to  be  in  readiness  to  march  with  five  days'  rations  in  the  haver 
sack  and  fifteen  in  wagons.  This  was  most  unwelcome  to  all  of 
the  division,  for  work  on  trenches  and  approaches  had  been 
going  on  with  enthusiasm  day  and  night,  and  it  was  felt  that 
whatever  was  in  their  front  must  soon  yield.  The  prospect  of 
Losing  the  results  of  their  toil  might  well  have  dampened  their 
ardor  ;  but  it  did  not.  The  crack  of  the  sharpshooter's  rifle  did 
Qot  abate,  and  the  spade  was  none  the  less  nimbly  handled. 

A  similar  order  was  sent  to  Carr's  division,  of  the  Sixteenth 
corps,  then  on  the  eve  of  its  victorious  assault  on  Spanish  fort. 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  187 

But  the  necessity  for  the  movement  did  not  occur,  and  neither 
division  marched.  The  order  was  occasioned  by  a  false  ala,rm 
of  confederate  troops  gathering  in  considerable  force  above 
Stockton. 

Combat  with  the  Gunboats. — At  ten  o'clock,  there  was  rain.  At 
twelve  o'clock,  three  thirty-pounder  Parrotts,  of  Capt.  Wim- 
mer's  battery  (H,  First  Indiana  heavy  artillery),  wore  ii 
position  in  the  battery  on  Hawkins'  right ;  and,  at  two  o'clock, 
the  trees  having  first  been  cut  down  to  give  a  suitable  range, 
fire  was  opened  on  the  gunboats,  lying  a  mile  distant,  in  the 
Tensas. 

These  steamers  consisted  of  the  Morgan,  built  of  wood  and 
carrying  eight  guns ;  the  Nashville,  clad  with  six  inches  of  iron 
before,  and  with  iron  round  the  pilot-house,  carrying  five  large 
guns  and  a  howitzer ;  and  the  Huiitsville,  a  turtle-backed  iron 
clad,  carrying  four  Ylll-inch  guns.  The  heavy  projectiles  from 
these  boats  had  annoyed  the  besiegers  every  day,  striking  quite 
close  to  the  different  headquarters ;  but  had  inflicted  the  princi 
pal  injury  on  the  colored  troops,  who  now  raised  a  glad  shout 
as  they  heard  the  first  booming  from  the  assailing  battery. 

Expectation  was  at  a  high  pitch.  Drew,  Whittlesey,  and 
several  other  officers,  were  present  to  watch  the  effect  of  the 
firing,  for  the  guns  and  gunners  were  in  good  repute.  The 
thirty-pounders  of  the  First  Indiana  were  loaded  with  percus 
sion  shells,  and  the  first  shot  struck  the  Morgan  in  her  middle, 
That  blow  was  the  first  warning  the  gunboats  had  of  the  exist 
ence  of  the  battery ;  and  it  was  a  few  minutes  before  a  reply 
was  made.  In  the  meantime,  Capt.  Winuner  maintained  an 
accurate  and  splendid  fire.  Then  the  Morgan  and  Nashville 
opened  on  the  battery  and  fired  with  accuracy,  exploding  their 
shells  against  its  ample  and  well-beaten  parapets.  Yet  so 
elaborately  and  thoroughly  had  the  work  been  made  that  it 
seemed  impervious.  The  only  casualties  were  two  men  wound- 


188  CAMPAIGN     OP     MOBILE. 

ed  by  earth  thrown  by  a  shell.  The  firing  became  intense  and 
the  effect  was  grand.  It  was  not  long  till  the  Morgan  and 
Nashville  in  a  disabled  condition  steamed  off  out  of  range. 
Then  Wimmer  turned  his  guns  with  solid  shot  on  the  Hunts- 
ville,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  dark  she  also  made  her  escape. 

The  Garrison. — A  detail  of  colored  men  was  sent  to  cut  the 
timber  on  the  right  of  the  Ninth  redoubt,  and  a  strong  picket 
force  kept  in  their  front.  The  confederate  artillery  endeavored, 
but  without  success,  to  silence  the  Seventeenth  Ohio  battery.1 
The  commander  of  the  garrison  reported  that  his  batteries  were 
briskly  replied  to  at  eight,  A.  M.,  from  several  points.  At  nine, 
p.  M.,  fireballs  were  thrown  from  redoubts  1  and  4  to  assist 
their  pickets.2  Toward  night  the  troops  on  both  sides  re 
marked  the  awful  cannonading  at  Spanish  fort,  and  at  ten  the 
besiegers  heard  of  the  assault  there  and  that  a  lodgment  had 
been  effected. 


1  Lidett  to  Maury:  "  April  8,  8:45,  A.  M. — Enemy  kept  up  a  brisk  fire  about 
half-past  two,  A.  M.,  from  their  lines  in  front  of  5,  6,  7,  for  about  one  and  a  half 
hours.     At  eight,  A.  M.,  our  batteries  commenced  opening  upon  them,  which, 
up  to  this,  have  been  briskly  replied  to  from  several  points,  and  one  imme 
diately  in  front  of  No.  7,  throwing  shells  into  Blakely  and  at  the  Brickyard 
i landing.     We  are  not  yet  able  to  silence  this  battery." 

2  Capt.  Lewis  to   Gens.  Cockrell  and  Thomas :  "  April  8.— Gen.  Lidell  di 
rects  me  to  inform  you  that,  at  nine,  p.  M.,  fireballs  will  be  thrown  from  re 
doubts  1  and  4,  and  desires  you  to  have  your  pickets  relieved  before  that 
time,  and  let  them  be  informed  of  the  above,  so  that  they  will  be  able  to  take 
every  possible  advantage  of  the  enemy,  and  increase  the  effectiveness  of  their 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

SIEGE  OF  BLAKELY— EIGHTH  AND  LAST  DAY  OF  THE  SIEGE. 

THE  morning  of  Sunday,  the  9th  of  April,  was  calm,  for  the 
skirmish  line  was  unusually  quiet.  At  nine  o'clock  there  was  a 
shower  of  rain.  Afterward  the  sun  came  out  bright  and  warm, 
but  toward  evening  dark  clouds  rolled  up  from  the  west. 

The  fall  of  Spanish  fort  enabled  Gen.  Canby  to  send  more  ar 
tillery  to  Blakely,  and,  in  course  of  the  day,  six  or  eight  more 
guns  opened  on  the  side  of  the  besiegers,  but  were  faintly 
answered. 

The  Fourth  Massachusetts  light  battery,  Capt.  Trull  com 
manding,  arrived  from  Spanish  fort,  and  opened  with  two  guns 
from  a  battery  in  Sconeld's  brigade  front,  of  Hawkins'  divis 
ion  ;  and  on  the  extreme  right,  two  of  the  thirty-pounders  of 
the  First  Indiana  were  turned  on  tha  garrison  and  fired  over 
thick  timber.  These,  with  the  two  light  guns  of  the  Second 
Massachusetts,  in  Pile's  brigade  front,  made  six  guns  engaged 
in  Hawkins'  front  the  last  day  of  the  siege,  and  they  did  good 
execution.  Some  of  the  men  in  Scofield's  brigade  were  injured 
by  shells  from  a  mortar  in  the  garrison.  When  the  thirty- 
pounder  shells  from  the  First  Indiana  guns  were  screeching  over 
the  heads  of  the  colored  troops,  they  cried,  "  Another  through 
train  to  Mobile." 

In  the  Second  division  front  two  ten-pounders  of  the  Second 
Connecticut,  and  four  twelve-pounders  of  the  Fifteenth  Massa 
chusetts,  fired  at  intervals  through  the  day  and  with  much 


190  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

spirit,  the  latter  sending  some  of  their  shots  against  the  gar 
rison's  left. 

In  Veatch's  front  two  twelve-pounders  of  the  Seventh  Massa 
chusetts,  Capt.  Storer,  were  in  position  and  engaged,  in  an 
unfinished  battery. 

But  the  largest  proportion  of  the  artillery  the  last  day  was  in 
Garrard's  front.  Capt.  Mack  left  Spanish  fort  at  four,  A.  M., 
with  his  eighteen-pounders,  and  at  nine,  A.  M.,  reported  to  Gen. 
Steele.  The  battery  went  into  carnp  for  a  while,  and  at  five, 
p.  M.,  took  position  nine  hundred  yards  from  the  garrison  works, 
behind  a  trench  on  Gen.  Garrard's  right.  On  his  left,  and 
considerably  to  the  rear,  were  four  thirty-pounder  Parrotts,  of 
Cox's  and  Hendrick's  batteries,  of  the  First  Indiana,  which  had 
come  up  from  Spanish  fort.  Along  his  second  line  of  intrench- 
ments  near  his  right  were  four  ten-pounder  Parrotts,  of  Capt. 
Lowell's  Second  Illinois,  and  three  of  Capt.  Rice's  Seventeenth 
Ohio  Napoleons.  Late  in  the  afternoon,  four  ten-pounder*  Par 
rotts,  of  Ginn's  Third  Indiana,  took  position  farther  to  the  left 
on  open  ground  masked  by  timber. 

The  besiegers  now  had  three  lines  of  intrenchments  or  con 
tinuous  rifle-pits  with  approaches,  the  Third  being  within  about 
six  hundred  yards'  of  the  garrison's  main  works,  and  some 
portions  of  the  line  were  nearer.  The  skirmishers  on  Garrard's 
left  were  within  three  hundred  yards  of  it,  the  ground  there 
affording  cover  up  to  about  that  distance.  On  the  right  of 
Moore's  brigade,  of  the  Second  division,  an  approach  had  been 
opened  a  hundred  yards  out  from  the  advance  parallel  and 
within  four  hundred  yards  of  the  main  works  of  the  garrison, 
and  skirmishers  were  posted  within  one  hundred  and  forty  yards 
of  the  principal  line  of  confederate  rifle-pits.  On  Spiceley's 
left,  of  the  same  division,  the  parallel  was  within  about  live 
hundred  yards  of  the  garrison's  main  works,  but  withdrew  as  it 
extended  to  the  right,  so  that  from  the  point  where  it  crossed 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  191 

the  Stockton  road  the  advance  trench  was  five  hundred  and 
eighty  yards  from  the  main  works  in  front ;  but  there  were 
detached  pits  forty  yards  farther  in  advance.  There  was  a  safe 
approach  to  the  left  part  of  that  trench  ;  and  the  soldiers  witli 
characteristic  humor  had  put  up  in  it  a  sort  of  guide-board 
with  the  inscription  "  Jl®^  To  Blakely."  Another  approach 
was  being  started  thence  to  the  front.  An  approach  was  also 
commenced  to  it  from  the  right  wing  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Indiana.  In  digging  that  advance  trench  two  torpedoes  had 
bsen  excavated  ;  and  others  in  Spiceley's  front  had  been  ex 
ploded  by  stray  musket-balls. 

In  Hawkins'  division  Pile's  skirmish-line  had  been  advanced, 
during  the  night  of  the  8th,  one  hundred  and  forty  yards,  and 
rifle-pits  dug  in  the  new  position.  On  the  right  of  Scoiield's 
brigade  an  approach  was  extended  within  two  hundred  and  forty 
yards  of  the  principal  line  of  confederate  rifle-pits. 

Each  division  commander  had  daily  reported  to  Steele  the 
progress  of  the  works,  and  the  casualties. 

Up  to  this  time  the  casualties  had  been  :  in  the  Colored  divis 
ion,  sixteen  killed,  and  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  wounded  ; 
in  each  of  the  other  divisions  the  loss  had  been  about  four  or 
five  killed,  and  from  twenty  to  thirty  wounded. 

In  the  forenoon3  some  boats  had  been  seen  from  the  tree- 
observatory  in  rear  of  the  besiegers,  to  put  out  from  Blakely 
loaded  with  troops.  A  report  soon  afterward  flew  through  the 
trenches  that  the  garrison  was  evacuating ;  and  this  seemed  to 
be  confirmed  by  the  unusual  silence  of  both  their  artillery  and 
sharpshooters.  There  was,  therefore,  a  general  desire  all  along 
the  line  to  take  the  first  opportunity  to  move  forward  to  "  feel 
f:he  enemy." 

Garrard  received  instructions,'  in  the  forenoon,  from  his  corps 
commander,  to  assault  the  works  in  his  front  in  the  afternoon  ; 
and  was  informed  that  the  other  two  divisions  of  the  corps 


L92  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

would  be  up  to  reinforce  him,  and  that  he  should  have  all  the 
artillery  he  wanted. 

Then,  about  three  in  the  afternoon,  Garrard  had  a  consulta 
tion  with  his  brigade  commanders,  at  his  own  headquarters, 
Gen.  Veatch  also  being  present,  and  fixed  upon  half-past  five 
o'clock,  P.  M.,  for  an  assault  to  be  made  in  his  front. 

Notice  of  the  intended  assault  was  immediately  sent  to  the 
troops  of  that  division  by  the  respective  brigade  commanders. 

About  three  o'clock,  Lieut.  Pettibone,  aide-de-camp,  was  sent 
from  the  headquarters  of  the  Second  division  to  obtain  permis 
sion  from  Gen.  Steele  for  that  division  to  move  on  the  garrison 
works,  "  as  far  as  it  could  go." 

.  Gen.  Steele  was,  at  the  same  time,  actively  engaged  making 
arrangements  for  an  advance,  and  was  found  in  the  saddle  by 
the  aide-de-camp,  who  returned,  saying  Gen.  Steele  desired  the 
movement  to  be  made,  and  fixed  the  time  for  it  at  half-past  five, 
p.  M.  Then,  not  knowing  that  the  movement  was  to  be  general, 
the  same  staff  officer  was  sent  to  give  notice  to  Gen.  Hawkins 
of  the  proposed  advance,  that  there  might  be  concert  of  action. 
He  returned  with  the  information  that  Canby  and  Steele  were 
both  at  Hawkins'  headquarters,  and  that  a  general  advance 
would  be  made  at  half-past  five,  P.  M. 

Gen.  Yeatch  received  official  notice  at  five,  P.  M.,  through 
Capt.  Lacy,  of  Gen.  Steele's  staff,  that  a  general  advance  would 
be  made  at  half -past  five,  P.  M. ;  and  he  was  directed  to  "  enter 
the  enemy's  works,  if  possible." 

The  Garrison. — All  this  while  the  besiegers  were  much  de 
ceived,  in  supposing  that  any  part  of  the  garrison  had  evacu 
ated.  The  troops  who  had  been  seen  to  leave  on  steamers 
were  a  portion  of  the  jaded  force  that,  through  mud  and  water, 
had  made  their  way  from  Spanish  fort ;  and  not  all  of  them 
had  left  Blakely. 

Meantime,  the  garrison  commander  was  informed,  by  signal 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  193 

telegraph  from  Battery  Tracy,  that  the  federal  forces  were 
moving  from  Spanish  fort  up  to  Blakely.  As  soon  as  he  heard 
this  he  apprehended  that  the  besiegers,  with  such  reinforce 
ments,  would  be  pretty  certain  to  assault ;  and  he  sent  out  the 
intelligence  to  the  division  and  separate  artillery  commanders, 
with  instructions  for  them  to  hold  their  commands  "in  readi 
ness  for  an  assault  at  any  moment."1  A  copy  of  the  order  was 
captured,  containing  the  endorsements  of  some  officers,  expres 
sive  of  their  ardent  determination  to  hold  their  position  at  all 
hazards — which,  undoubtedly,  was  the  universal  sentiment  of 
the  garrison. 

They  had  suffered  a  severe  artillery  fire  during  the  forenoon, 
having  two  guns  dismounted,  but  their  artillery  were  saving 
their  ammunition  to  repel  an  assault,  and  abstained  from 
replying.2 

Preliminary  Advance  by  the  Colored  Troops. — Previous  to  the 
general  assault  which  took  place  at  about  six  o'clock,  there 
was  an  advance  and  spirited  combat  in  front  of  the  Colored 
division. 


1  CapL  Lewis  to  Gen.  Cockreli  and  others :  "April  9. — Gen.  Lidell  directs  me 
to  inform  you,  that  Col.  Patton  signals  the  following  from  Battery  '  Tracy' : 
'  Wagon  trains  and  heavy  columns  of  infantry  have  been  crossing  Bay  Minette 
bridge  all  the  morning.' 

"  In  view  of  the  above,  Gen.  Lidell  directs  that  you  hold  your  command  in 
readiness  for  an  assault  at  any  moment." 

3  Lidell  to  Maury :  "April  9 We  have  had  the  constant  fire  of  five 

batteries  on  us  this  morning,  dismounting  two  guns,  field  pieces,  including  the 
only  Blakely  gun.  Col.  Patton  has  signalled  Capt.  Grayson  (3:20  P.  M.),  that 
artillery  accompanies  the  infantry.  There  is  nearly  one  quarter  of  a  mile,  from 
the  right  of  Gen.  Thomas,  through  the  swamp,  and  to  the  river,  that  is  unoccu 
pied  by  any  troops  ;  and  the  track  of  the  garrison  from  Spanish  fort  discloses 
to  an  enemy  the  means  of  approach  to  this  place,  on  that  side.  I  shall  move 
my  quarters  to  that  locality,  and  make  every  disposition  available.  I  am  hav 
ing  the  new  place  of  landing  prepared  for  the  use  of  boats,  small  craft,  and, 
possibly,  steamboats." 

13 


194  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

In  Gen.  Pile's  brigade,  which  was  the  left  one  of  the  Colored 
division,  the  Seventy-third  regiment,  Lieut.-Col.  Merriam,  and 
the  Eighty-sixth,  Major  Mudget,  were  in  the  advance  trench. 
A  little  after  noon,  Gen.  Pile  received  word  from  each  of  those 
officers,  that  the  confederate  sharpshooters  in  their  front  had 
suddenly  become  quiet,  and  they  asked  permission  to  "  feel  the 
enemy."  Pile  then  ordered  one  commissioned  officer,  and 
thirty  select  men  from  each  regiment  to  be  in  readiness  to 
advance.  He  also  caused  the  two  guns  of  the  Fourth  Massa 
chusetts  light  artillery  to  fire  a  few  shots,  to  see  what  reply 
would  be  elicit.  No  reply  was  made.  He,  then,  at  about 
three  o'clock,  was  starting  to  the  front  to  advance,  when  Maj.- 
Gen.  Osterhaus,  chief  of  staff,  rode  up,  dismounted,  and  went  for 
ward  with  him.  After  examining  the  ground,  Gen.  Osterhaus, 
directed  that  half  the  men  selected  for  the  movement  should  get 
into  a  ravine  immediately  in  front  of  the  right  regiment,  then 
move  up  to  a  crest  held  by  the  skirmish-line.  At  a  given  signal 
they,  with  the  remainder  of  the  party  who  were  to  spring  out  of 
the  rifle-pits  on  the  left,  were  to  charge  and,  if  possible,  capture 
the  confederate  rifle-pits.  This  was  undertaken  in  a  resolute 
manner,  Capt.  Jenkins  of  the  Eighty-sixth,  and  Capt.  Brown,  of 
the  Seventy-third,  assisted  by  the  skirmish-line  under  Capt. 
Greenwood  of  the  Eighty-sixth,  leading  the  movement.  A  gall 
ing  fire  was  immediately  opened  on  them,  both  from  the  sharp 
shooters  and  artillery.  They  then  grew  more  cautious  and 
sought  as  they  advanced  what  protection  there  was  from  stumps 
and  logs.^  These,  however,  afforded  but  little  cover;  and  to 
advance  at  all  they  had  to  jump  over  fallen  trees  and  logs, 
and  were  consequently  much  exposed.  Ths  ground  was  exceed 
ingly  rough,  and  they  had  three  hundred  yards  to  go.  The 
garrison  sharpshooters  had  a  strong  liae  of  abatis  in  their  front, 
and  felt  cool  and  confident.  They  took  advantage  of  the  ex 
posure  of  the  assaulting  party  and  shot  down  many.  Capt. 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  195 

Brown  of  the  Seventy- third  was  mortally  wounded.  Still,  offi 
cers  and  men  kept  moving  forward  with  self  possession  and 
courage,  and  though  fighting  at  disadvantage,  returned  the 
fire  with  spirit.  Gen.  Osterhaus  declared  that  they  fought  as 
well  as  the  best  of  troops. 

Perceiving,  by  the  steady  advance  of  the  party,  that  they 
meditated  a  serious  attack,  the  garrison  sent  out  reinforcements 
to  their  skirmish-line,  and  the  contest  grew  more  obstinate. 
Here  and  there  a  man  of  the  colored  troops  would  fall  back  a 
few  yards  for  better  shelter,  for  the  artillery  was  playing  on 
them  with  searching  fire,  but  the  general  line  held  its  ground 
and  advanced  rather  than  fell  back.  Pile  reinforced  them  with 
five  companies,  with  instructions  to  hold  the  ground  gained  and 
'•  intrench  immediately  in  rear  of  the  enemy's  abatis."  In  about 
an  hour  they  had  advanced  three  hundred  yards,  got  possession 
of  the  garrison's  advanced  rifle-pits,  and  inflicted  some  loss  on 
the  occupants  of  the  latter  as  they  fell  back  to  their  breast 
works. 

The  skirmish-line  in  front  of  Scofi eld's  brigade  and  Drew's 
brigade  was  advanced  at  about  four  o'clock,  and  the  confederate 
pits  were  also  captured  in  their  fronts,  yet  not  without  loss.  In 
Drew's  brigade,  on  the  extreme  right,  the  Sixty-eighth  regiment, 
with  Lieut.-Col.  Densmore  in  command,  and  the  Seventy-sixth, 
Major  Nye,  were  at  the  front.  The  skirmish-line  being  doubled 
for  the  advance,  there  were  four  companies  from  each  of  the  two 
regiments  engaged.  The  movement  was  conducted  by  Col.  J. 
B.  Jones,  of  the  Sixty-eighth  by  a  left  wheel.  The  men  first 
took  off  their  coats  so  as  to  move  more  readily  through  the 
brush,  and  charged  in  their  shirt-sleeves.  They  had  three  hun 
dred  yards  to  pass  over.  The  skirmishers  who  had  been  on 
duty  and  were  in  the  front  first  rushed  out  of  their  pits  and  were 
followed  closely  by  the  second  line,  all  moving  on  the  double- 
quick  and  making  a  deafening  clamor  by  their  cheers.  By  the 


196  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

time  they  had  gained  a  hundred  yards  the  confederate  skirmish 
ers  began  to  retreat  from  their  advance  pits.  The  assaulting 
party  mat  an  effective  artillery  and  musketry  fire  from  the  garri 
son  and  lost  several  of  their  number,  yet  they  pushed  on  in 
a  dauntless  manner  to  the  confederate  pits,  and  then  in  obedi 
ence  to  Col.  Jones'  orders,  laid  down  behind  the  abatis.  In  the 
charge,  Col.  Jones  was  shot  through  his  hand  with  a  musket 
ball,  but  continued  at  his  work. 

At  this  time  Col.  Drew's  reserve  regiment,  the  Forty-eighth, 
Col.  F.  M.  Crandall  commanding,  was  in  camp  nearly  a  mile 
in  the  rear ;  yet  Drew,  being  confident  that  the  force  -there 
present  could  carry  the  main  works  in  his  front,  or  else,  im 
pelled  by  the  enthusiasm  of  the  moment,  ordered  the  balance 
of  the  Sixty-eighth,  and  Seventy-sixth  to  charge,  giving  the 
order — "  Forward  on  the  enemy's  works,"  at  the  same  time  wa 
ving  his  hat.  This  was  only  a  few  minutes  after  Jones'  move 
ment  was  completed.  He  passed  along  the  trench,  loudly 
giving  the  command,  for  there  was  now  a  great  din,  and  com 
pany  officers  and  men,  as  fast  as  they  heard  it  direct  from 
him — for  the  best  disciplined  could  hardly  be  expected  to  be 
formal  when  they  heard  an  order  to  charge — broke  off  on  the 
double-quick  with  shouts,  and  charged  with  the  greatest  enthu 
siasm.  Not  starting  in  line,  both  regiments  soon  got  mingled 
together,  and  they  encountered  a  galling  fire  from  every  gun 
that  could  be  brought  to  bear  on  them.  Yet  the  officsrs  were 
using  their  best  endeavors  to  keep  the  men  in  line.  The  fatal 
track  of  the  cannon-ball,  of  grape,  canister,  and  shells,  AY  as 
soon  apparent.  Lieut.  Manhardt,  of  the  Sixty-eighth,  was 
instantly  killed  by  a  grape-shot,  while  endeavoring  to  execute  an 
order  to  close  the  men  to  the  right.  Capt.  George  Giger,  of  the 
Sixty-eighth,  was  mortally  wounded  while  rallying  the  men  to 
close  up  to  the  left.  Many  of  the  men  had  fallen.  Col.  Jones, 
in  passing  along,  felt  Something  pulling  at  his  trowsers,  and, 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  197 

looking  down,  a  man,  who  was  mortally  wounded  in  the  first 
charge,  besought  him  to  take  his  cartridges  •'  to  the  boys." 
Jones  himself  soon  after  fell,  stunned  by  the  explosion  of  a 
shell. 

Col.  Drew,  and  the  two  regiments  with  him,  had  moved  along 
the  ground  on  a  level  with  the  garrison's  left  redoubt,  and  had 
to  face  a  deadly  fire.  At  length  he  ordered  that  they  should 
pass  to  the  right  and  advance  on  the  bluff  side,  where  they 
would  have  some  cover ;  and  in  a  few  minutes  all,  except  a  few 
who  continued  on  the  high  ground,  were  skirting  the  brow  of 
the  bluff,  intending  to  reach  the  left  of  the  confederate  works 
and  go  in  if  possible.  The  bluff  side  was  steep  and  thickly 
covered  with  slashings.  The  ground  also  was  springy  and  soft, 
and  it  was  extremely  difficult  for  the  troops  to  get  along.  While 
a  squad  of  men  paused  to  fire  over  the  brow  of  the  bluff,  others 
hurried  along  to  take  an  advanced  position,  and  then  the  former 
squad  again  would  drop  down,  work  their  way  along  and  take  a 
position  farther  to  the  front.  A  storm  of  missiles  was  still 
sweeping  over  them,  and  they  were  losing  some  of  their  number 
from  exhaustion  as  well  as  wounds.  Finally,  the  last  depression 
affording  any  protection  was  reached.  From  there  to  the  main 
parapet  was  smooth  ground  of  less  than  a  hundred  steps.  Then 
they  halted  to  take  breath  and  wait  the  arrival  of  those  who  had 
fallen  behind,  preparatory  to  their  last  effort.  A  few  of  the  men 
pushed  on  some  yards  below  the  hill,  but  were  soon  either  killed 
or  driven  back. 

It  soon  seemed  clear  to  them  that  they  were  too  few  for  the 
work  in  hand.  Their  numbers  were  counted  over  and  found 
to  be  nineteen  officers  and  sixty-five  men !  Officers  in  too  great 
proportion.  What  was  to  be  done  ?  There  is  reinforcement  in 
a  cheer.  They  cheered,  fired  volleys,  and  cheered  again  as  if 
about  to  charge.  They  wondered  why  the  reserve  did  not  show 
itself,  and  why  more  of  their  own  comrades  were  not  up.  Many 


198  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

of  the  latter,  poor  fellows,  would  never  again  bo  up.  Then  they 
listened  but  in  vain  to  hear  any  shots  on  their  own  side.  They 
could  see  the  garrison  works  tseming  with  men,  and  felt  that 
they  were  in  imminent  danger  of  a  sally.  To  go  forward  was 
folly,  to  go  back  was  less  to  their  notion. 

Col.  Drsw  then  went  back,  to  hasten  up  the  reserve,  and 
the  senior  officer  left  with  the  party  was  Lieut.-Col.  Densinore, 
of  the  Sixty-eighth.  They  kept  firing  volleys  at  the  parapet 
and  cheering. 

The  garrison,  suspecting  the  charging  party  were  in  trouble, 
attempted  a  sally,  yet  with  diffidence.  Capts.  Holcomb,  Nor 
wood,  Lieut.  Kogers,  and  some  other  officers,  with  a  few  men 
who  kept  on  the  high  ground,  had  got  some  cover  near  the  main 
works,  but  they  and  the  party  over  the  bluff  were  ignorant  of 
each  other's  whereabouts.  When  the  former  saw  the  sally  party 
starting,  they  fired  on  it  with  all  their  might,  and  Densmore's 
men,  hearing  some  of  the  shots  go  over,  also  put  in  a  volley, 
with  one  of  their  cheers.  This  happy  concurrence  repulsed 
the  sally.  But  Densmore's  men  did  not  know  the  result,  and 
continued  to  apprehend  an  attack  ;  and,  while  awaiting  with 
absorbing  anxiety  the  arrival  of  the  reserve,  they  continued 
their  volleys  and  cheers. 

Then  three  ominous-appearing  vessels  steamed  out  in  sight, 
and  tlie  men,  as  if  willing  to  catch  at  straws,  exclaimed,  "  They 
are  Union  gunboats  that  have  arrived  just  in  season  to  help  us  !" 
and  then  they  had  a  cheer  for  the  "  Union  gunboats."  Dens- 
more  said  nothing  to  them  of  the  confederate  flag  he  saw  at  the 
mast-head.  Shortly,  the  garrison  ran  a  howitzer  outside  of 
their  works,  and  threw  canister  into  the  logs  and  brush,  which 
compelled  the  colored  troops  to  hug  closer  to  the  ground. 

After  waiting  some  time,  Lieat.-Col.  Densinore  had  sent  back 
a  captain  for  the  reserve.  Afterward  he  sent  a  lieutenant, 
charging  him  to  let  nothing  but  death  prevent  his  bringing 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  199 

back  men  or  orders.  He  began  to  think  he  would  need  to 
send  a  third  messenger,  when  an  officer  showed  himself  suffi 
ciently  to  get  his  attention.  But  the  din  of  canister,  bullets, 
and  hand-grenades,  prevented  a  word  being  heard.  Then  the 
officer  took  off  his  hat  and  beckoned  the  party  back. 

Too  indignant  and  sullen  to  hurry,  they  retreated  in  order 
bringing  back  their  dead  as  far  as  possible,  and  taking  all  their 
wounded.  They  returned  as  they  went,  a  part  halting  to  fire 
while  the  rest  retreated  to  the  next  cover.  When  they  had  got 
far  enough  away  to  render  it  safe  for  the  gunboats  to  fire  with 
out  endangering  the  garrison,  those  boats  opened  a  raking  fire 
along  the  side  of  the  bluff. 

The  party  got  back  to  their  trenches  in  time  to  see  the  re 
serve  arrive  from  the  rear.  But  the  little  detachment  with  Nor 
wood  and  Holcomb  still  remained  in  their  position,  nearly 
up  to  the  garrison  works. 

As  the  movement  commenced,  this  party  had  hastened  for 
ward  through  impediments  of  fallen  tree-tops,  in  face  of  a 
sharp  fire,  and  when  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  fort,  a 
shower  of  musket-balls,  thrown  from  cannon,  beat  around  them. 
Out  of  eleven  officers  of  the  party,  seven  were  there  killed  or 
wounded.  They  became  apprehensive  of  a  counter-charge,  and 
of  being  flanked.  If  captured,  they  also  apprehended  that 
their  rights  as  prisoners  would  not  be  respected.  After  a  short 
consultation,  they  rightly  concluded  the  best  thing  to  be  done 
was  to  fight  it  out.  Then  the  men  fixed  bayonets,  and  some 
were  heard,  with  clenched  teeth,  to  say  they  would  die  sooner 
than  surrender  or  retreat.  With  fixed  bayonets  this  gallant 
party  charged  down  the  line  parallel  with  the  fort,  and,  after 
a  short  but  desperate  resistance,  drove  the  garrison  sharp 
shooters  from  the  interior  line  of  abatis  into  their  main  works, 
and  gained  a  position  whence  they  could  silence  the  more  de 
structive  guns.  Here  they  remained  till  the  final  assault. 


200  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

THE  ASSAULT. 

The  skirmish-line  of  Gen.  Pile's  brigade  had  been  intrenching 
in  their  new  position,  under  heavy  fire,  about  forty  minutes, 
when  the  cheering  of  the  white  troops  was  heard  011  their  left. 
An  officer  then  ran  in  that  direction  till  he  could  see  what  was 
taking  place,  and  quickly  returning,  signalled  to  Gen.  Pile  that 
the  Second  division  were  charging  on  the  main  works  in  their 
front.1 

Then  Pile  ordered  forward  his  brigade,  and  the  assault  be 
came  general  in  Hawkins'  entire  front.  The  brigades  of  Pile, 
Scofield,  and  Drew,  charged  almost  simultaneously,  and  carried 
the  works  in  their  respective  fronts.  Greater  gallantry  than 
was  shown  by  officers  and  men  could  hardly  be  desired.  The 
latter  were  burning  with  an  impulse  to  do  honor  to  their  race, 
and  rushed  forward  with  intense  enthusiasm,  in  face  of  a  ter 
rible  fire.  As  they  got  close  to  the  works  some  of  the  con 
federates,  dreading  to  fall  into  their  hands,  ran  off  to  surrender 
to  the  white  troops.  In  Drew's  front,  several  of  the  confed 
erates,  with  muskets,  remained  outside  of  the  works,  refused  to 
surrender,  and  maintained  a  cool  and  desperate  struggle  till 
they  fell.  In  Scofield's  line,  the  explosion  of  a  single  torpedo 
killed  and  wounded  thirteen  of  the  Fifty -first  regiment.  As  his 
men  were  advancing,  they  heard  a  confederate  officer  behind  the 
works  exclaim,  "  Lay  low  and  mow  the  ground — the  d d 

1  "  This  movement  on  my  part  was  followed  up  by  the  Second  brigade  on 
my  right,  and  the  work  of  intrenching  had  been  progressing,  under  heavy  fire, 
forty  minutes,  when  cheering  on  rny  left  notified  me  that  Gen.  Andrews' 
division  was  moving  forward.  Still  ignorant  whether  this  was  an  assault  on 
the  enemy's  main  works,  or  merely  a  following  up  of  the  movement  already 
made  by  me,  I  sent  a  staif  officer  to  my  left  to  report  if  their  advance  continued 
beyond  the  first  line  of  abatis,  and  parallel  with  my  advance,  who  immediately 
signaller]  that  Gen.  Andrews'  division  was  already  advancing  to  assault  the 
main  works." — Gen.  Pile's  Official  Report. 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  201 

niggers  are  coming !"  which  became  a  byword  in  camp.  The 
colored  troops  captured  nine  guns,  twenty-two  commissioned 
officers,  and  two  hundred  and  one  enlisted  men.  The  Seventy- 
third  colored  regiment — New  Orleans  troops — was  the  first  of 
Pile's  brigade  to  plant  its  colors  on  the  parapet ;  and  Sergt. 
Edward  Simon,  of  Company  1  of  that  regiment,  was  mentioned 
for  his  signal  bravery. 

The  prisoners  were  generally  treated  with  kindness.  A  col 
ored  soldier  of  the  Fiftieth  regiment  found  his  former  young 
master  among  the  prisoners.  They  appeared  happy  to  meet, 
and  drank  from  the  same  canteen.  Some  of  the  Louisiana , 
men,  however,  made  an  attack  on  the  prisoners  and  were  with 
difficulty  restrained  from  injuring  them.  The  latter  almost 
invited  attack  by  manifesting  an  unreasonable  dread  of  the 
colored  soldiers  ;  huddling  together  in  heaps,  and  acting  as  if 
their  captors  were  wild  beasts.  Capt.  Norwood  and  Lieut. 
Gleason  of  the  Sixty-eighth  were  wounded,  the  latter  mortally, 
in  their  efforts  to  save  the  prisoners. 

Afterward  the  prisoners  were  taken  to  the  camp  of  the  Col 
ored  division,  and  some  of  them  endeavored  to  lead  the  way  so 
as  to  avoid  torpedoes ;  yet  one  of  the  guards  had  his  leg  blown 
off  by  the  explosion  of  a  torpedo  near  Scofield's  trenches,  but 
nothing  like  retaliation  was  manifested. 

Hawkins'  loss  in  the  assault  was  thirty-two  killed  and  one 
hundred  and  forty-seven  wounded.  Of  these  a  pretty  large  pro 
portion  were  officers.  Several  of  the  latter  have  been  named. 
Among  those  who  fell  in  the  assault  were  Maj.  Mudget  of  the 
Eighty-second,  and  Capt.  S.  E.  Wilson  of  the  Sevent}7- sixth,, 
acting  assistant  adjutant-general  on  Col.  Drew's  staff.  The 
total  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  in  that  division  before  Blakely 
was  three  hundred  and  seventy-one — namely :  killed,  five  com 
missioned  officers  and  forty-three  men  ;  wounded,  twenty-two 
commissioned  officers  and  three  hundred  and  one  men.  The 


202  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

confederate  loss  in  their  front  in  killed  and  wounded  was  about 
a  third  as  large. 

Second  Division. — Cols.  Spiceley  and  Moore,  brigade  com 
manders,  were  at  division  headquarters  about  four  o'clock, 
when  the  order  of  assault,  or  advance — for  it  was  not  then 
thought  there  would  be  much  resistance — was  agree  1  upon. 
It  was  arranged  that  a  regiment,  deployed  as  skirmishers, 
should  advance  in  front  of  each  brigade  ;  and  after  it  had 
gained  the  distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards,  that  the 
remainder  of  the  brigades  should  follow.,  deployed  in  line  of 
battle.  The  movement  was  to  commence  with  the  Second 
brigade,  and  the  cheer  of  the  skirmish-line,  as  it  started,  was 
to  be  the  signal  for  the  skirmish-line  to  start  in  front  of  the 
Third  brigade.  The  commander  of  the  latter  brigade,  Col. 
Moore,  selected  the  Eighty-third  Ohio  as  the  skirmish  regi 
ment  in  his  front,  and  the  Ninety-seventh  Illinois,  at  the  re 
quest  of  its  commanding  officer,  was  designated  for  the  skir 
mishers  of  the  Second  brigade. 

Both  brigades  were  in  the  two  front  trenches  at  about  half- 
past  five  ;  and  the  first  notice  most  of  the  men  had  of  the 
assault  was  the  order  to  fall  in.  Of  the  men  in  camp  that 
Sunday  afternoon,  some  had  been  writing  home  that  they  were 
soon  to  march — for  they  were  under  marching  orders.  Others 
were  washing  their  clothes  ;  and  so  from  the  humblest  duties, 
they  hastened  to  take  part  in  the  grandest. 

Lieut.-Col.  Yifquain  had  the  Ninety-seventh  deployed,  and 
had  passed  along  the  trench  once  or  twice  to  see  that  every 
thing  was  in  readiness,  when  an  explosion  of  a  torpedo  occurred 
on  the  rear  edge  of  the  trench,  tearing  off  the  leg  of  Capt. 
Wisner,  of  the  Ninety-seventh  Illinois,  who  was  endeavoring  to 
pass  to  his  company,  and  injuring,  to  all  appearances,  fatally, 
•one  or  two  men.  It  was  no  happy  augury  ;  and  as  the  wounded 
were  borne  along  the  trench  and  approach  to  the  rear,  the 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  203 

spirits  of  the  beholders  seemed  depressed.     Such  is  the  terror 
of  concealed  dangers. 

This  occurrence  caused  a  few  moments'  delay,  and  it  was 
quarter  to  six  when  the  movement  commenced.  Precisely  at 
that  'time,  Lieut.-Col.  Vifquain,  in  a  clear,  inspiring  tone,  and 
with  his  sword  drawn,  and  elevated,  gave  the  command,  "  For 
ward,  Ninety-seventh !"  Then  he  and  his  gallant  regiment 
sprang  upon  the  parapet,  and  with  loud  cheers,  which  wero 
taken  up  by  all  the  troops  left  behind,  they  dashed  forward 
on  the  run.  Instantly  tfyey  were  greeted  with  a  shower  of 
bullets,  and  before  they  had  got  twenty  yards  a  few  men  fell. 
In  less  than  half  a  minute  the  Eighty-third  Ohio,  led  by  Lieut.- 
Col.  Baldwin,  swept  over  the  parapet  in  their  front,  and,  with 
thrilling  shouts,  moved,  on  the  run,  for  the  redoubt  in  their 
front.  Three  or  four  pieces  of  artillery,  from  the  garrison, 
quickly  opened  on  these  regiments,  firing  with  great  rapidity, 
and  they  also  encountered  a  bitter  musketry  fire.  The  confed 
erate  sharpshooters  at  first  were  disposed  to  hold  their  position ; 
and  the  men  of  the  Ninety-seventh  commenced  firing  when  they 
had  got  eighty  yards.  The  skirmish  grew  more  and  more  bitter, 
the  Ninety-seventh  every  minute  gaining  ground  and  the  confed 
erates  giving  way.  While  the  skirmish  was  occurring,  Lieut.-CoL 
Vifquain  ran  back  with  a  prisoner  to  the  trench  from  which  he 
had  started,  then  hastened  to  his  regiment  and  resumed  the 
charge,  following  the  course  of  the  Stockton  road.  The  prisoner 
stated  that  the  whole  garrison  still  remained  at  Blakely.  Every 
one  could,  by  that  time,  see  that  such  was  the* fact,  for  the  con 
federates  were  getting  out  of  their  rifle-pits  and  falling  back  to 
their  main  works  in  literal  swarms.  Over  a  hundred  of  these 
were  seen,  in  a  straggling  crowd,  to  ascend  the  hill  on  which 
was  Redoubt  No.  4,  just  south  of  the  Stockton  road.  At  the 
same  time  the  breastworks  appeared  numerously  mai'died  It 
was  apparent  there  was  to  be  a  much  severer  struggle  tlia-L  bad 
been  expected. 


204  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

The  Ninety-seventh  Illinois  had  got  but  a  short  distance  when 
the  Seventy-sixth  Illinois,  Col.  S.  T.  Busey,  sprang  forward. 
About  the  same  time,  the  Sixty-ninth  Indiana,  Lieut.-Col.  O. 
Perry,  also  rushed  forward ;  and,  afterward,  the  Twenty-fourth 
Indiana,  Lieut.-Col.  Sears,  charged  from  the  right.  These 
regiments  advanced  on  the  run  with  great  enthusiasm  and 
gallantry.  The  Sixty-ninth  Indiana  took  the  Stockton  road, 
and  entered  the  confederate  works  a  little  south  of  that  road. 
Lieut.-Col.  Perry  was  severely  wounded  before  he  had  got  two 
hundred  yards.  The  Seventy-sixth  Illinois  charged  directly  on 
the  redoubt  in  their  front,  the  one  north  of  the  Stockton  road, 
and  preserved  its  allignment  weU  till  it  got  to  the  second  line  of 
abatis.  One  man  of  that  regiment  was  killed  at  the  first  line 
of  abatis  and  rifle-pits ;  then,  at  the  second  line,  the  battle 
became  fierce  and  bloody.  The  confederates  maintained  a  bold 
front  from  behind  their  breastworks,  and  when  the  Seventy-sixth 
was  within  fifty  yards  of  the  redoubt,  they  suffered  severely  from 
the  confederate  musketry  and  artillery.  While  a  part  of  the 
regiment  maintained  a  spirited  fire,  the  rest  crossed  the  abatis. 
Lieut.  Wm.  F.  Kenaga  was  shot  through  a  leg  at  the  second 
abatis,  and  nearer  the  works  was  hit  in  the  ankle-joint  of  his 
other  leg ;  then,  unable  to  walk,  he  kept  upright  on  his  knees 
and  rallied  and  cheered  the  men.  The  color-sergeant,  Hussey, 
was  killed  within  twenty  feet  of  the  works ;  then  the  colors  were 
taken  by  the  noble  and  brave  Corporal  Goldwood,  who,  as  he 
was  planting  them  on  the  parapet,  received  the  contents  of  three 
muskets  so  close  that  the  discharge  burnt  his  clothes,  and  he  fell 
dead  inside  the  works  with  the  colors  in  his  arms. 

The  Seventy-sixth  and  the  confederates  were  now  fighting 
across  the  works,  and  those  of  the  regiment  in  the  rear  were 
coming  up  as  fast  as  they  could  pass  the  obstructions.  Col. 
Busey  ran  along  close  to  the  parapet,  and,  with  his  revolver, 
disabled  the  gunner  of  a  "howitzer  about  to  be  fired,  and  which 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  205 

afterward  proved  to  have  a  double  charge  of  grape  and  can 
ister  ;  then  turning  to  the  right,  he  exchanged  shots  with  two 
at  short  range.  Afterward,  he  ordered  Lieut.-Col.  Jones,  with 
Capts.  Hughes  and  Ingerson,  and  Lieut.  Warner,  with  from 
twenty  to  fifty  men,  to  charge  the  right  flank  of  the  redoubt, 
while  he,  with  another  squad,  charged  the  front.  They  charged 
with  bayonets,  and  drove  the  confederates  from  the  works. 

Fifty  yards  in  rear  of  the  redoubt  the  ground  began  to  slope 
considerably.  It  had  been  cleared  of  thick  underbrush,  and  the 
latter  had  been  piled  in  a  row  along  the  crest.  Behind  that 
cover  the  confederates  formed  again,  and  gave  another  volley, 
wounding,  among  others,  Col.  Busey  and  Capt.  Hughes.  Then 
the  Seventh-sixth  charged  them  again,  and  they  threw  down 
their  arms,  and  ran  into  the  woods  and  toward  the  landing. 
Col.  Busey  sent  detachments  in  pursuit  of  them.  Upward  of 
four  hundred  prisoners  fell  into  the  possession  of  the  Seventy- 
sixth.  It  had  five  men  killed  inside  the  works.  "  Its  whole  num 
ber  of  killed  was  sixteen,  of  whom,  besides  those  already  men 
tioned,  were  Sergeant  Perkins  and  Corporals  Hopkins  and 
Tremain.  There  were  eighty  wounded,  some  mortally  ;  so  that 
its  entire  casualties  were  about  one  hundred.  Among  the 
wounded  were  Lieuts.  Martin  and  Warner.  The  Seventy-sixth 
Illinois  entered  the  works  over  the  south  salient  of  the  redoubt, 
and  over  the  breastworks  extending  south.  Its  national  colors 
were  planted  on  the  breastwork.  It  was  claimed  by  his  com 
rades  that  Private  Eldrick  Bromillet,  of  Company  D,  was  the 
first  one  of  the  regiment  over  the  works.  He  was  killed  fifty 
yards  inside  the  works  by  a  confederate  captain,  and  the  latter 
was  killed  by  Bromillet 's  comrade.  That  regiment  used  the 
bayonet  in  the  charge,  and  displayed  throughout  the  highest 
degree  of  valor.  No  regiment  on  the  field  that  day  suffered  so 
heavily,  none  exhibited  more  intrepid  bravery.  And  higher 
praise  than  that  cannot  be  awarded  troops. 


206  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

The  Twenty-fourth  Indiana  entered  the  works  on  the  right 
of  the  Seventy-sixth  Illinois,  soon  after  the  latter  had  pos 
session.  The  right  of  the  Twenty-fourth  had  to  pass  one  or 
two  deep  ravines,  in  which  was  wet  ground  covered  with  fallen 
trees,  and,  when  part  way  to  the  confederate  works,  the  regi 
ment  was  halted,  and  ordered  to  lie  down.  But  such  was  the 
ardor  of  the  men,  that  their  commander  found  it  difficult  to 
restrain  them,  and  bade  them  go  on.  Such  was  their  ardor 
they  did  not  stop  to  capture  the  confederate  skirmishers,  nor 
even  to  disarm  ah1  they  met.  One  of  the  latter  raised  his  hands, 
to  indicate  his  submission,  and  after  the  Twenty-fourth  men 
had  passed  him  turned  and  fired  on  them,  grazing  the  ear  of 
a  man  named  Messer.  The  latter  then  turned  upon  him,  and 
shot  him  dead.  A  man  named  Walker,  in  Company  C,  had 
told  his  comrades  where  he  would  fall,  and  after  they  had 
passed  the  spot  they  looked  back,  and  saw  that  he  was  indeed 
lying  there.  A  shell  burst  right  over  the  Twenty-fourth, 
enveloping  the  men  in  a  cloud  of  smoke,  yet  doing  no  more 
serious  injury  than  tearing  to  pieces  the  hat  of  one  man,  the 
cartridge-box  of  another,  and  the  stock  of  another's  musket. 
However,  the  confederates  thought  it  had  done  more  mischief, 
and  raised  a  cheer.  The  loss  of  the  Twenty-fourth  was  about 
twelve,  killed  and  wounded.  Not  far  from  the  works,  fell  the 
lamented  Capt.  George  E.  Merchant,  commanding  Company  D. 
He  lived  only  till  the  next  day.  He  was  an  excellent  officer, 
and  dearly  beloved  by  his  company  and  comrades. 

The  Ninety-seventh  Illinois  had  pushed  forward  over  the 
obstructions,  against  a  dreadful  fire,  and,  having  started  de 
ployed  as  skirmishers,  the  men  got  much  scattered  ;  but  they 
well  knew  how  to  take  care  of  themselves,  and  officers  and  men 
performed  their  duty  with  unflinching  valor.  The  colors  of  the 
regiment  were  planted  on  the  works  between  the  Stockton  road 
and  the  redoubt  south  of  it,  almost  simultaneously  with  the 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  207 

Eighty -third  Ohio.  They  were  carried  by  Sergeant  Edwin 
D.  Lowe,  and  in  the  charge  they  were  struck  and  torn  by  the 
fire  of  the  artillery,  but,  unharmed  himself,  he  kept  them  con 
spicuously  in  the  advance,  and,  undismayed  by  the  thick 
clangers  around  him,  planted  them  firmly  on  the  works,  then 
fell  with  a  mortal  wound.  But  the  hand  that  struck  him  down 
was  soon  itself  laid  cold,  by  an  unerring  shot  from  one  of  the 
color-guard.  The  Ninety-seventh  Illinois  lost  nine  killed  and 
fifty-three  wounded.  Among  the  latter  were  five  officers. 
Capt.  Howard  and  Lieut.  Orern  were  both  struck  down  when 
near  the  main  works.  The  loss  in  the  Sixty-ninth  Indiana 
battalion  was  ten,  wounded.  Col.  Spiceley  and  staff  entered 
the  works  about  with  the  Twenty-fourth. 

The  right  of  the  Eighty-third  Ohio  had  three  ravines  to  pass, 
and  the  ravine  nearest  the  garrison  works  was  deep  and  long 
enough  to  include  nearly  the  whole  of  the  regiment.  When 
it  had  advanced  about  two  hundred  yards,  it  had  come  to  the 
principal  line  of  confederate  rifle-pits,  still  to  some  extent  oc 
cupied.  The  Eighty-third  there  paused  a  few  moments  for 
the  right  to  get  up  out  of  the  ravine  ;  the  confederate  sharp 
shooters'  guns  were  taken  from  those  who  surrendered,  and 
broken.  Then  the  colors  of  ths  Eighty-third  moved  on  the 
line  still  advancing  as  fast  as  the  nature  of  the  ground  and  the 
obstacles  of  brush  and  logs  would  admit.  It  soon  began  to 
descend  the  ravine  two  hundred  yards  from  the  main  works, 
and  for  two  or  three  long  minutes  was  lost  sight  of.  It  was 
passing  the  ravine  through  which  ran  a  rivulet,  and  in  the  bot 
tom  of  which  was  a  jungle  of  slashings  almost  defying  the  pas 
sage  of  persons  even  at  a  time  of  leisure  and  unencumbered 
with  weapons.  Then  it  began  to  ascend  the  high  ground  in 
front  of  the  redoubt  where  were  some  detached  rifle-pits.  A 
few  steps  farther  and  it  was  up  to  another  line  of  abatis,  breast- 
high,  apparently  impassable,  and  fifty  yards  from  the  works. 


208  CAMPAIGN     OP     MOBILE. 

Before  this  the  foremost  of  the  Eighty-third  stooped  down  to 
avoid  the  destructive  fire  which  was  being  poured  upon  them, 
to  take  breath,  and  to  wait  till  the  wings  could  close  up.  Fif 
teen  yards  inside  of  the  line  of  abatis  just  before  them  was 
another  line,  not  readily  seen  at  a  distance,  consisting  of  stakes 
firmly  driven  into  the  ground  close  together,  and  sharpened  at 
the  end.  Then,  thirty-five  yards  from  that,  was  the  ditch  and 
the  high  parapet  of  the  redoubt.  The  infantry  troops  which 
manned  that  redoubt  and  the  adjacent  breastworks,  consisted  of 
Cockrell's  Missouri  brigade,  comprising  the  First,  Third,  Fourth, 
and  Fifth  Missouri  infantry,  and  the  First  and  Third  Missouri 
cavalry,  dismounted ;  one  of  the  most  famous  fighting  brigades 
of  the  confederate  army.  These  troops  stood  up  in  a  bold  man 
ner  behind  their  breastworks,  firing  on  their  assailants  as  if  they 
hoped  to  repulse  them.  There  seemed  to  be  a  constant  blaze  oi 
musketry  along,  the  breastworks.  The  artillery"  was  served  with 
the  same  desperate  energy.  The  guns  vomited  forth  grape  and 
canister  with  a  fury  that  made  one  shudder.  But  most  of  the 
shots  went  over  the  mark. 

While  tlie  Eighty-third  Ohio  was  in  that  position  the  Sixty- 
ninth  Indiana  and  Ninety-seventh  Illinois  were  on  their  right, 
on  lower  ground,  near  the  Stockton  road,  and  hotly  engaged. 
Lieut.  Col.  Baldwin  caused  part  of  his  regiment  to  return  the 
fire  of  the  garrison  while  the  rest  made  an  opening  through  the 
abatis.  The  colors  of  the  regiment  were  flying  conspicuously, 
and  both  flagstaff's  were  shot  in  two  and  the  colors  riddled  with 
bullets. 

While  this  scene  was  occurring,  a  division  staff-officer  was  sent 
to  have  the  Twenty-fourth  Indiana  move  down  to  reinforce  the 
Ninety-seventh  Illinois,  whoso  colors  were  seen  not  far  from  the 
main  works ;  but  the  Twenty-fourth  was  already  on  the  way  to 
the  works  farther  to  the  right,  and  the  officer  found  it  inside  of 
them,  About  the  same  lime,  another  staff-officer  was  sent  to 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  209 

hasten  forward  the  main  line  of  the  Third  brigade  in  support 
of  the  Eighty -third  Ohio  ;  but  before  he  reached  its  commander, 
it  was  advancing  on  the  double-quick,  the  colors  flying,  the  men 
cheering,  and  the  whole  line  looking  splendidly.  On  the  right, 
was  the  Thirty -fourth  Iowa,  Col.  G.  W.  Clark  ;  next  the  Ono 
Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Ohio,  Col.  J.  H.  Kelly  ;  the  Thirty- 
seventh  Illinois,  Col.  Chailes  Black  ;  and  the  Twentieth  Iowa, 
Lieut.-Col.  J.  B.  Leake  ;  all  superior  regiments,  with  gallant 
and  able  commanders.  Their  appearance  on  the  field,  of  course, 
began  to  excite  dismay  in  those  against  whom  the  Eighty-third 
was  contending.  Lieut.-Col.  Baldwin,  as  soon  as  a  passage  was 
opened  through  the  abatis,  gave  the  order  for  the  regiment 
again  to  advance.  This  was  done  with  a  dauntless  spirit.  The 
men,  with  their  bayonets,  pried  an  opening  through  the  next 
line  of  abatis,  then  rushed  forward,  bearing  their  flying 
colors,  and,  though  still  encountering  numerous  obstructions, 
in  the  nature  of  wire  lines,  were  soon  upon  the  redoubt.  Capt. 
Garry,  of  the  Eighty-third,  was  among  the  first  to  mount  the 
parapet,  but  a  private  soldier  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  over 
them.  Lieut-Col.  Baldwin  was  soon  on  the  parapet ;  and  see 
ing  that  the  most  of  his  regiment  was  ready  to  mount  the  works, 
he  jumped  down  inside,  and  cried  out,  "  Surrender  !"  The  com 
manding  officer  inquired,  "  To  whom  do  we  surrender  ?"  Bald 
win  answered,  "  To  the  Eighty-third  Ohio."  Then  the  officer 
said,  "  I  believe  we  did  that  once  before," — referring  to  a  some 
what  similar  occasion  at  Yicksburgh. 

It  was  about  twenty  minutes  from  the  time  the  Eighty-third 
began  the  charge  till  it  was  in  possession  of  the  works ;  but 
some  contest  was  kept  up  for  a  few  minutes  in  rear  of  the 
redoubt  after  the  first  had  entered.  Two  volleys  were  fired 
inside  the  works,  in  the  edge  of  the  woods,  five  minutes  after 
the  Eighty -third  was  inside. 

The  less  of  the  Eighty-third  Ohio  was  seven  killed  and  twenty- 

14 


210  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

one  Abounded.  Among  the  killed  were  Corporal  Hughes,  and 
Privates  De  Mar  (on  the  works),  Cook,  Cox,  Anderson,  and  Van 
Amsdale.  Among  the  wounded  were  Capt.  Gary  and  Lieut. 
Snyder. 

The  other  regiments  01  Moore's  brigade  met  with  some  resist 
ance.  The  Thirty-fourth  Iowa  had  three  killed,  and  twelve 
wounded.  The  brigade  commander  advanced  in  the  charge 
near  that  regiment.  A  man  of  Company  H,  of  the  Thirty- 
fourth,  was  shot  at  by  a  wounded  confederate  lying  in  a  rifle- 
pit,  having  been  passed  by  the  skirmishers.  Another  man,  of 
Company  H,  then  dealt  him  a  fatal  blow  with  his  clubbed 
musket.  The  loss  in  the  Thirty-seventh  Illinois  was  one  killed 
and  three  wounded.  In  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Ohio, 
two  wounded.  The  Twentieth  Iowa  escaped  loss  in  the  assault, 
and  only  had  its  flag  shot  through.  That  regiment  entered  the 
works  at  the  two-gun  battery,  on  the  brow  of  the  ravine,  south 
of  Redoubt  No.  4.  About  eight  hundred  prisoners  were  taken  in 
front  of  Moore's  brigade.  The  whole  number  of  prisoners  taken 
by  the  Second  division  was  thirteen  hundred,  including  a  general 
commanding  a  division ;  also  ten  or  twelve  guns  and  several 
stands  of  colors.  The  works  carried,  in  its  front,  were  three 
quarters  of  a  mile  in  extent,  and  embraced  two  strong 
redoubts  (Nos.  3  and  4)  and  a  two-gun  battery.  After  dark, 
while  the  men  were  picking  up  the  dead  and  wounded,  a 
few  torpedoes  were  exploded.  In  this  way  a  man  of  the 
Second  Connecticut  battery  and  one  of  the  One  Hundred, 
and  Fourteenth  Ohio  were  killed,  and  one  or  two  others 
wounded.  The  whole  loss  of  the  Second  division  in  the 
assault  was  two  hundred  and  thirty-three,  namely :  forty-one 
killed  and  one  hundred  and  ninety-two  wounded.  The  con 
federate  loss  in  killed  and  wounded,  in  front  of  that  division 
was  not  fully  ascertained.  Abcut  twenty  confederates  were 
buried  near  the  works; 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  211 

Featck's  Division. — Next,  on  the  left,  in  Veatch's  division, 
Dennis'  brigade  had  the  advance,  the  Third  brigade,  Lieut.-Col. 
Kinsey  commanding,  being  held  in  reserve.  Slack's  brigade  was 
not  called  out  of  camp,  it  having  been  on  duty  the  preceding 
night  in  going  to  and  returning  from  Spanish  fort.  Gen.  Dennis' 
brigade  was  disposed  as  follows  :  The  Eighth  Illinois  (Ogelsby's 
old  regiment),  a  vsteran  and  splendid  regiment,  Col.  Sheetz 
commanding,  was  in  the  advance  parallel.  The  Eleventh  Illi 
nois  (veteran),  Col.  Coats  commanding,  was  to  follow  in  support 
in  line  of  battle  on  the  left,  and  the  Forty-sixth  Illinois,  Col. 
Domblaser,  on  the  right.  Col.  Sheetz  was  instructed  to 
advance,  with  tlie  Eighth  Illinois  deployed  as  skirmishers,  as 
soon  as  he  saw  the  troops  moving  in  the  assault  on  his  right 
and  left. 

At  the  moment  the  Eighth  Illinois  advanced,  the  Eighty- 
third  Ohio  had  got  about  halfway  to  the  main  works.  The 
line  of  the  Eighth  Illinois,  deployed  in  one  rank,  extended 
about  four  hundred  yards.  The  regiment  numbered  seven  hun 
dred.  The  distance  to  the  confederate  works  was  six  hundred 
yards.  There  was  first  a  slight  ravine  to  pass,  and  then  the 
ground  was  moderately  level ;  but  the  course  of  the  right  of  the 
line  lay  over  the  irregularly-scalloped  side  of  a  deep  ravine. 
There  were  two  or  three  lines  of  abatis  to  overcome,  and  the 
ground  was  partly  covered  with  fallen  trees.  There  was  also 
some  obstruction  by  wires.  Yet  that,  including  a  strip  of 
ground  adjoining  on  the  left,  was,  perhaps,  the  smoothest  part 
of  the  field  of  Blakely,  and  it  was,  perhaps,  the  most  exposed. 

The  Eighth  Illinois  took  up  the  soldiers'  war-cry,  and  rushed 
forward  in  the  charge  with  all  the  compulsive  force  that  a 
skirmish-line  can  have.  They  made  but  short  pause  at  the 
confederate  rifle-pits.  Those  of  the  occupants  who  did  not  fall 
back  rapidly  to  tbeir  main  works,  were  killed  or  captured.  The 
abatis  was  passed,  either  by  springing  over  it,  or  by  pulling 


212  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

it  one  side  and  making  passage  ways  through  it.  The  nearei 
the  Eighth  got  to  the  main  works,  the  fiercer  raged  the  tempest 
of  bullets  against  them.  Besides  a  constant  volume  of  mus 
ketry,  they  encountered  the  rapid  fire  of  four  pieces  of  artillery. 
They  returned  the  fire  to  some  extent.  Meantime  the  besiegers' 
batteries  in  their  rear  were  dropping  shells  on  the  garrison's 
works  with  excellent  effect.  When  within  about  a  hundred 
yards  of  the  main  works,  the  contest  seemed  desperate,  and  it 
was  apparent  the  Eighth  was  losing  many.  The  Eleventh  and 
Forty-sixth  had  got  halfway  over  the  field,  moving  in  a  gal 
lant  manner,  when  an  order  reached  them  to  halt,  the  right  of 
Garrard's  division  having  been  seen  to  pause.  Then  the 
orderly,  Murray,  who  carried  the  order,  went  on  with  a  similar 
one  to  the  Eighth,  but  the  latter,  with  victorious  strides, 
was  already  on  the  parapets  of  the  redoubt,  and  the  brave 
orderly  entered  the  works  close  by  Lieut.-Col.  Wheaton, 
of  the  Eighth.  The  latter  and  Sergt.  John  Switzer,  of  Com 
pany  B,  were  the  first  of  the  regiment  upon  the  works.  A 
shot  from  one  of  the  besiegers'  batteries  struck  the  parapet 
while  Wheaton  was  going  over  the  works ;  and  while  he  was 
close  to  the  parapet,  two  men  of  the  Eighth  were  killed  by  the 
last  artillery  fire  from  the  redoubt.  Wheaton  ordered  Sergt. 
Switzer  to  shoot  the  gunner ;  but  before  it  could  be  done, 
Sergt.  Henderson  had  struck  him  down  with  the  butt  of  his 
musket. 

Capt  Miller  entered  several  yards  to  the  left  of  Wheaton. 
and  Private  James  B.  Garwood,  of  his  company,  was  shot  down 
by  his  side  when  on  the  top  of  the  works.  Capt.  Miller  there 
encountered  an  oincer  of  the  garrison,  who  attempted  to  shoot 
him  with  a  revolver,  and  took  him  prisoner.  Then  seeing  their 
flag,  which  was  planted  in  the  ground  that  the  bearer  might 
better  assist  in  the  defence,  he  tore  it  from  the  staff. 

The  confederates  fell  back  from  their  works,  into  the  timber, 


^ta'SjIili 

.'    iSsiSi; 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  213 

and  continued  firing  till  the  most  of  the  Eighth  were  over 
the  breastworks.  As  soon  as  the  Eleventh  and  Forty-sixth 
had  come  up,  the  Eighth  moved  down  toward  the  landing. 

Veatch's  loss  in  the  assault  was  thirteen  killed  and  sixty-four 
wounded.  Of  these  the  Ei^h'ii  Illinois  lost  ten  killed  and 
fifty-four  wounded.  Among  the  severely  wounded  of  the  Eighth 
were  Capt.  Coleman — who,  after  having  been  brought  to  the 
ground,  continued  to  wave  his  sword  and  cheer  his  men — also 
'Lieuts.  Sanderson  and  Harrington. 

In  Veatch's  front  were  captured  about  three  hundred  prison 
ers,  one  thirty-pounder  Parrott,  one  ten-pounder  Parrott,  two 
twelve -pounder  howitzers,  and  one  YHI-inch  columbiad.  The 
latter  was  in  position,  but  the  embrasure  for  it  had  not  been 
finished. 

GarrarcTs  Division. — The  trench  containing  the  right  of  the 
First  brigade  (Col.  Kinaker's),  and  left  of  the  Third  brigade 
(Col.  Harris'),  of  this  division,  being  the  nearest  point  to  the 
confederate  works,  Gen.  Garrard  directed  that  the  assault  in 
his  front  should  commence  there,  and  be  taken  up  on  the  right 
and  left.  His  order  of  attack  was  two  lines  of  skirmishers,  to 
be  supported  by  the  main  line  of  battle.  When  the  first 
skirmish  line  had  started,  and  appeared  to  be  advancing  with 
success,  the  second  line  was  to  follow,  and  when  the  first  line 
had  reached  the  enemy's  works,  the  main  line  was  to  charge. 
This  plan  was  adopted  by  him  on  account  of  the  terrible 
obstructions  in  his  front. 

His  three  brigades  were  in  position  at  about  the  appointed 
hour.  Col.  Rinaker,  assisted  by  his  acting  aide-de-camp, 
Lieut.  McLain,  of  the  Eighty-ninth  Indiana,  had  been  arrang 
ing  the  position  of  his  brigade,  and  was  about  ready  to  give  the 
order  to  advance,  when  the  commander  of  the  Third  Indiana 
light  battery  reported  to  him  for  orders.  This  caused  him  a 
little  delay,  and  his  brigade  did  not  move  precisely  with  Harris'. 


214  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

Col.  Harris'  brigade  was  formed  in  two  lines.  In  the  first 
line,  the  Fifty-eighth  Illinois,  Capt.  John  Murphy  commanding, 
was  on  the  right ;  the  Eleventh  Wisconsin,  Maj.  J.  8.  Miller, 
on  the  left ;  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-eighth  New  York, 
Lieut.-Col.  J.  B.  Gondalfo,  in  the  centre.  In  the  second 
line,  the  Thirty-fourth  New  Jersey,  Col.  Lawrence,  was  on  the 
right ;  and  the  Fifty-second  Indiaiia,  Lieut.-Col.  Main,  on  the 
left.  Company  A,  Capt.  Park,  Company  F,  Lieut.  McConnell, 
and  Company  D,  Capt.  Toms,  of  the  Eleventh  Wisconsin,  were 
selected  for  the  skirmish-line  of  that  regiment,  and  they 
deployed  and  lay  down  in  front  of  the  trench  previous  to 
the  movement.  These  troops  had  to  charge  six  hundred  yards 
(more  than  one  third  of  a  mile),  over  broken  ground,  covered 
with  the  usual  amount  of  obstructions.  At  quarter  to  six 
o'clock,  Col.  Harris  directed  his  acting  assistant  adjutant-gen 
eral,  Capt.  E.  E.  Jackson,  of  the  Eleventh  Wisconsin,  to  order 
the  charge  to  commence  ;  which  order  was  soon  given,  and 
promptly  obeyed.  When  the  skirmish-line  of  the  Eleventh 
had  gained  one  hundred  yards,  they  received  such  a  heavy  fire 
from  the  confederates'  well-fortified  and  numerously  manned 
pits,  that  Maj.  Miller,  fearing  they  would  be  checked,  took  the 
responsibility  of  ordering  forward  the  rest  of  his  regiment,  com 
manding,  "  Forward,  Eleventh  !"  Instantly  the  Eleventh  Wis 
consin  sprang  out  of  their  trench,  and,  with  the  ringing 
cheers  of  veterans,  rushed  onward,  with  emulous  ardor  and 
high  resolve,  to  victory  or  death.  They  followed  so  closely 
upon  the  retreating  confederate  skirmishers,  as  to  save  them 
selves  from  a  general  fire  from  the  main  works  till  within 
about  one  hundred  yards  of  them.  Then  they  encountered 
a  destructive  fire  of  musketry,  and  grape,  and  canister. 

Though  many  were  struck  down,  and  the  ranks  of  the 
leading  groups  were  visibly  thinned,  the  survivors  moved  on 
with  unfaltering  step  fo  the  main  works,  and  there  engaged 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  215 

in  a  hand-to-hand  contest  with  the  most  unyielding  spirits 
of  the  garrison.  Lieut.  Angus  It.  McDonald,  Sergeant  Daniel 
B.  Moore,  and  six  others,  were  within  thirty  yards  of  the 
works,  and.  by  Lieut.  McDonald's  orders,  they  fixed  bayo 
nets,  and  charged  them.  When  close  to  the  parapet  a  vol 
ley  killed  five  of  their  number,  and  knocked  the  lock  off  of 
Moore's  gun.  Then  McDonald  ordered  that  they  should  wait 
till  others  came  up;  but  Serg  ant  Moore,  in  the  din,  not 
hearing  the  order,  mounted  the  works.  The  gallant  Corporal 
Joel  Wheeler,  of  Company  A,  had  preceded  him  and  was 
shot  'dead  on  the  parapet.  McDonald  quickly  followed  and 
demanded  a  surrender.  At  that  time  the  main  part  of  the 
Eleventh  was  coming  up  within  a  few  yards,  but  one  or 
two  volleys  were  afterward  fired  on  them  from  behind  the 
works.  A  portion  of  the  garrison  had  already  broke  and  was 
fleeing  toward  the  landing.  Where  McDonald  and  Moore 
entered  were  eight  who  surrendered ;  but  ten  yards  to  their 
right  was  a  squad  of  twelve  under  charge  of  an  officer,  who 
were  still  pouring  a  deadly  fire  into  the  right  of  the  Eleventh. 

The  officer   exclaimed  :    "  No  quarter  to  the  d d  Yankees." 

Lieut.  McDonald  and  Sergeant  Moore  fell  into  their  hands, 
and  then  followed  a  desperate  struggle.  Eive  or  six  attacked 
McDonald  with  bayonets,  but  he  fought  them  with  his  sword, 
knoqking  some  down,  and  killed  two.  He  received  two  bayonet 
thrusts  in  his  breast  and  a  musket  ball  in  his  thigh,  when  he 
fell.  A  confederate  fell  over  him  whom  he  used  as  a  shield 
against  a  farther  thrust  by  the  bayonet.  Then  Sergeant  Moore, 
who  had  also  received  a  bayonet  wound,  picked  up  a  confederate 
musket  and  shot  McDonald's  assailant  dead. 

Other  gallant  men  of  the  Eleventh  were  soon  upon  the  works, 
closely  followed  by  the  regiment.  Then  came  with  eager  step 
the  rest  of  the  brigade  with  its  commander,  Col.  Harris ;  and 
when  the  troops  were  in  full  possession  of  the  works  a  shout  of 


216  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

triumph,  want  up  that  baffles  description.  The  men  flocked 
around  their  commander  with  earnest  and  joyful  greetings. 
But  no  single  voice  could  be  heard.  Col.  Harris  pointed  up  to 
the  flag,  now  proudly  waving  on  the  captured  works.  Then 
again  the  emotions  of  patriotism  and  of  victory  burst  forth  in 
tumultuous  shouts.  Near  them  the  ground  was  thickly  strewed 
with  the  wounded  and  the  dead,  and  many  of  the  latter  were 
buried  near  the  works.  Among  the  killed  in  the  Eleventh  Wis 
consin,  were  Lieut.  Richard  Coddell,  Sergeant  W.  H.  Phelps, 
and  Corporals  Wheeler,  Allbaugh,  Shea,  and  Ingamills.  Its 
whole  number  of  killed  was  fifteen,  and  it  had  two  commissioned 
officers,  including  Lieut.  Wm.  Charlton,  twelve  non-commis 
sioned  officers,  and  thirty-two  privates  wounded.  Total  casual 
ties  in  the  Eleventh  Wisconsin,  sixty-one.  In  the  Fifty-eighth 
Illinois,  Lieut.  Thomas  Malloy  was  killed  on  the  works,  and 
Lieut.  Atwater  severely  wounded ;  and  there  were  other  casual 
ties  in  that  regiment.  In  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-eighth 
New  York,  there  was  one  killed  and  four  wounded  ;  in  the  Fifty- 
second  Indiana  two  killed  and  eight  wounded ;  in  the  Thirty- 
fourth  New  Jersey,  Corporal  Hampton  was  killed  and  three 
were  wounded. 

Soon  after  the  works  in  Harris'  front  were  taken,  detachments 
of  his  brigade  marched  down  to  the  landing  for  prisoners.  The 
Fifty-second  Indiana  was  placed  as  guard  over  the  artillery  ^and 
prisoners. 

Similar  enthusiasm  and  gallantry  characterized  Gen.  Gilbert's 
brigade,  next  on  the  right,  which  advanced  soon  after  Harris'. 
It  was  formed  in  three  lines.  The  Tenth  Kansas,  Lieut.-Col. 
Charles  S.  Hills  commanding,  and  Company  B,  of  the  Twenty- 
seventh  Iowa,  deployed  as  skirmishers  in  the  advanced  trench, 
six  hundred  yards  from  the  main  works.  The  Twenty-seventh 
Iowa,  Col.  Lake ;  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventeenth  Illinois, 
Col.  Moore,  and  Companies  D,  H,  and  K,  of  the  Thirty -second 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  217 

Iowa,  under  Maj.  Hutchinson,  in  the  second  line.  The  Sixth 
Minnesota,  Lieut.-Col.  Grant,  and  the  other  seven  companies  of 
the  Thirty-second  Iowa,  Lieut.-Col.  Eberhart,  forming  the 
reserve  line,  and  posted  eleven  hundred  yards  from  the  main 
works.  The  severest  part  of  the  charge  fell  upon  the  Tenth 
Kansas,  and  they  breasted  the  storm  that  beat  against  them 
with  a  noble  heroism.  In  their  front,  as  elsewhere,  the  artillery 
uttered  its  last  fierce  thunders,  pouring  forth  shell,  grape,  and 
canister ;  the  musketry  volleys  roiled  along  the  line  in  quick 
succession,  and  clouds  of  smoke  rose  up  from  the  works.  The 
Tenth  Kansas  directed  their  steps  toward  the  Sixth  redoubt ; 
vet  such  was  the  fire  upon  them,  and  not  wishing  to  pause  to 
roturn  it,  they  turned  for  a  moment  down  the  side  of  a  ravine. 
But  an  enfilading  fire  greeted  them  there ;  and  with  hardly  a 
pause,  they  soon  gained  the  high  ground  again,  crossed  two  lines 
of  abatis,  then  the  ditch,  and  mounted  the  parapets. 

The  furious  fire  that  had  beset  them,  made  them  cluster 
in  a  group,  and  they  entered  the  works  more  as  a  column 
in  mass  than  in  line.  Then,  with  fixed  bayonets,  they  swept 
along  the  works  to  their  right,  mixing  blue  and  gray  to 
gether  ;  and  the  latter,  seeing  their  helpless  condition,  hud 
dled  into  the  angles  of  the  fort,  and  making  little  resistance, 
surrendered  by  scores.  Yet  there  was  some  firing  after  the 
Tenth  were  inside  the  works,  for  a  number  of  the  confederates 
refused  to  surrender.  One  captain  caught  up  a  musket  and 
fired  at  Capt.  Wood,  of  the  Tenth,  while  the  latter  was  calling 
on  him  to  surrender,  and  then  another,  and  a  third  rnusket, 
each  time  failing  to  hit  Capt.  Wood. 

Then  Corporal  Schultz,  of  the  Tenth,  sent  a  ball  through 
the  confederate's  head,  and  he  fell.  Several  other  instances 
of  the  same  kind  occurred.  Meantime,  some  of  the  leading 
confederate  officers  were  approaching  officers  of  the  Tenth, 
handing  them  their  swords,  and  beseeching  them  to  stop  the 


218  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

"butchery,"  as  they  termed  it.  But  it  appears  none  were 
intentionally  killed  after  they  had  ceased  fighting.  The  con 
federate  commanders  were  not  able  to  get  all  to  surrender, 
even  after  resistance  seemed  utterly  fruitless. 

A  number  of  pieces  of  artillery  and  several  hundred  prison 
ers  were  captured  in  Gilbert's  front. 

The  Tenth  Kansas  had  seven  killed  and  twelve  wounded,  and 
of  the  latter,  Lieut.  John  Bryan  and  Private  Plummer  died 
of  their  wounds.  Among  the  killed  were  Sergeant  George 
Daller  and  Corporals  Buxton  and  Thompson.  There  were 
fyur  wounded  in  the  Twenty-seventh  Iowa,  including  Lieut. 
Eisenhart ;  one  killed  and  one  wounded  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Seventeenth  Illinois  ;  one  wounded  in  the  Sixth  Minnesota, 
and  one  in  the  Thirty-second  Iowa.  The  whole  loss  in  Gilbert's 
brigade  was  eight  killed  and  nineteen  wounded.  After  the 
brigade  was  in  possession  of  the  works,  large  detachments 
hurried  down  to  the4  landing,  and  through  the  woods,  for 
prisoners.  Maj.  Hutchinson,  of  the  Thirty-second  Iowa,  with 
a  squad  of  eight  men,  held  a  large  number  of  confederates  in 
check,  in  range  of  their  gunboats,  in  a  manner  to  prevent  the 
latter  from  firing  on  the  Union  troops. 

Binaker's  brigade  had  from  three  hundred  to  four  hundred 
yards  of  rough  groiind  to  charge  over,  before  reaching  the 
confederate  works.  The  One  Hundred  and  Nineteenth  Illinois, 
Col.  Thomas  J.  Kinney,  deployed  as  skirmishers,  commenced 
the  charge  in  front  of  that  brigade,  advancing  with  cheers, 
on  the  run,  at  a  signal  by  the  bugle.  The  supporting  line  co3> 
sistecl  of  the  Eigl^fcy-ninth  Indiana  on  the  right*  the  One  Hun 
dred  and  Twenty-second  Illinois  in  the  centre,  and  the  Twenty- 
first  Missouri  on  the  left.  Lieut.-Col.  Craven,  of  the  Eighty- 
ninth  Indiana,  had  accompanied  the  regiment  down  to  the 
front,  although  ill,  but  was  not  able  to  take  part  in  the  charge, 
and  the  command  fell  upon  Major  "Winter.  At  the  second 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  219 

signal  on  the  bugle,  these  three  regiments  advanced  with  eagei 
step.  The  most  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Nineteenth  was  then 
only  thirty  yards  in  front ;  and  the  ground  was  so  irregular,  and 
the  obstacles  so  numerous,  that  both  lines  were  soon  merged 
together.  Yet  the  latter  regiment  pushed  forward  as  fast  as 
men  could  go,  stopping  to  fire  but  little.  The  greater  part 
of  the  confederates  retreated  from  their  rifle-pits  to  the  main 
works,  and  it  seemed  to  be  a  race  between  them  and  the  assault 
ing  troops  as  to  which  should  reach  them  first.  A  vehement  and 
excited  fire  from  the  main  works  assailed  the  advancing  troops, 
the  artillery  of  two  redoubts  being  turned  upon  them.  Yet 
the  guns  did  less  injury  than  was  to  have  been  apprehended. 
Each  regiment  sustained  some  loss.  Lieut. -Col.  Drish,  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-second,  fell  struck  by  a  piece  of 
shell,  and  the  command  devolved  on  Major  Chapman.  Two 
of  that  regiment,  named  Miller,  were  killed,  and  eleven  wounded. 
In  the  Eighty-ninth  Indiana,  one — Corporal  Cowan — was  killed, 
and  five  wounded,  two  of  whom,  Hutchinson  and  Coppock, 
died.  The  color-bearer  of  the  Twenty-first  Missouri  was  shot 
down  when  near  the  works,  and  they  were  seized  by  Cox  of 
Company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-second  Illinois,  and 
planted  on  the  works.  The  loss  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Nineteenth  was  sixteen  killed  and  wounded — and  the  most  of 
those  casualties  occurred  in  Capt.  Hubbarcl's  company,  and  his 
brother,  Edward  P.  Hubbard,  a  private  soldier,  wa%  among  the 
mortally  wounded.  Some  twenty  of  that  company  charged  the 
works  with  fixed  bayonets,  and  were  among  the  first  to  enter 
ijiem.  Jj&  Rinaker's  brigade  got  close  to  the  works,  the  most 
of  the  infantry — Alabama  reserves — retreated  toward  the  river. 
The  artillerists,  however,  held  their  positions,  and,  refusing  to 
surrender,  were  shot.  Many  of  the  artillerists  were  armed  with 
rifles.  After  entering  the  works,  the  Twenty-first  Missouri  and 
Capt.  Bostwick's  company,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty 


220  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

second  Illinois,  turned  to  the  left  and  charged  down  in  rear  of 
the  works  to  the  last  redoubt.  Einaker's  brigade  took  three  or 
four  battle-flags,  the  artillery  in  their  front,  and  several  hundred 
prisoners. 

The  redoubts  in  Garrard's  front  had  eighteen  embrasures, 
and  his  division  carried  all  the  works  in  its  front,  capturing  the 
artillery,  and  sixteen  hundred  prisoners,  including  two  general 
officers.  The  loss  in  his  division  was  :  commissioned  officers, 
two  killed  and  seven  wounded  ;  enlisted  men,  thirty-nine  killed 
and  one  hundred  and  seventeen  wounded  ;  total,  one  hundred 
and  sixty-nve0 

The  total  casualties  of  the  federals,  engaged  in  the  assault, 
was  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  killed  and  five  hundred  and 
twenty-seven  wounded ;  grand  total,  six  hundred  and  fifty-four. 
Number  of  prisoners  captured,  three  thousand  four  hundred 
and  twenty-three,  including  three  general  officers.  There  were 
also  captured,  several  battle-flags,  upward  of  forty  pieces  of 
artillery,  the  small  arms  used  by  the  infantry,  and  ah1  the  gar 
rison  stores. 

It  is  not  easy  to  estimate  the  loss  of  the  garrison  in  killed 
and  wounded ;  but  it  was  probably  a  third  as  large  as  that  of 
the  besiegers.  There  were  a  few  boats  out  in  the  stream,  and 
some  of  the  garrison  attempted  to  swim  to  them,  and  it  was 
reported  a  number  were  drowned. 

"Wellington  well  said  that  a  battle  could  not  be  painted. 
Neither  can  language  fully  describe  so  great  and  ever-chang 
ing  a  scene. 

It  has  been  seen  what  was  the  nature  of  the  ground  over 
which  the  assault  was  made  ;  that  it  wras  cut  up  by  ravines, 
rough,  and  covered  with  obstructions.  It  was  known,  also,  to 
be  mined  with  torpedoes  in  various  places ;  and  there  was 
reason  to  dread  them. 

Thirty-five  regiments — fully  sixteen  thousand  troops — partici- 


C.VMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  221 

pated  in  tlie  assault.  The  lines  were  three  miles  in  length,  and 
the  advance  of  the  entire  line  was  remarkably  simultaneous. 

The  scene  was  picturesque  and  grand.  From  different  points 
of  view  the  assaulting  lines  could  be  seen  for  a  mile  or  two,  as 
far  even  as  the  forms  of  men  could  be  distinguished  moving 
over  the  broken  ground,  The  regimental  colors,  though  not  in 
perfect  line,  were  steadily  advancing,  and  the  troops  were  dash 
ing  on  over  and  through  the  obstructions  like  a  stormy  wave.  It 
was  at  a  moment  when  the  shock  of  battle  was  the  fiercest.  In 
the  clamor  could  be  heard  the  voices  of  the  assaulting  troops. 
Nothing  could  exceed  their  enthusiasm.  If  then  they  could 
have  known  the  great  event  that  had  occurred  a  few  hours 
before — that  Lee  had  surrendered — and  that  their  contest  would 
probably  be  the  last  important  struggle  oi  the  war,  they  could 
hardly  have  experienced  more  exulting  emotions,  or  pressed 
forward  with  more  dauntless  step.  It  seemed  as  if  "  all  the  joy, 
all  the  sensation  of  life,  was  in  that  one  moment,  that  they  cast 
themselves  with  the  fierce  gladness  of  mountain  torrents,  head 
long  on  that  brief  revelry  of  glory." 

Gen.  Steele,  during  the  assault,  was  along  the  front  of  the 
Second  division,  and,  with  his  staff,  kept  np  with  the  main  line 
of  Moore's  brigade.  "When  he  saw  the  advance  line  entering 
the  works,  he  exclaimed :  "  I  knew  they  would  do  it.  I  told 
you  they  would  go  over  those  works." 

He  soon  after  sat  down,  and  signed  a  despatch  to  Gen.  Canby, 
which  Capt.  Lacy,  his  assistant  adjutant-general,  had  written,  in 
these  words :  "  We  have  stormed  the  entire  line  of  works,  and 
our  troops  are  now  in  full  possession."  A  reply  soon  came, 
written  by  Col.  Christensen,  saying  :  "  Gen  Canby  says  :  '  God 
bless  you,  and  God  bless  your  brave  command.'  " 

It  was  dark  before  the  prisoners  could  be  collected  together 
and  formed  to  march  back  with  the  different  divisions  to  their 
camps ;  and  great  care  had  to  be  taken  to  avoid  dangers  from 


222  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

torpedoes.  All  the  fore  part  of  that  night,  there  were  occa 
sional  explosions  of  torpedoes,  and  a  few  men  were  killed  by 
them  while  searching  for  the  dead  and  wounded.  It  was  a 
discordant  and  melancholy  sound  to  lieas. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  SIEGE  AND   ASSAULT   OF   BLAKELY. 

1.  THE  fall  of  Blakely,  and  capture  of  its  garrison,  left  the  con 
federates  only  four  thousand  five  hundred  troops  for  the  imme 
diate  defence  of  Mobile,  which  being  too  small  a  force  to  hold 
the  city,  they  marched,  on  the  llth,  for  Meridian.     Gen.  Maury 
followed  at  daylight  of  the  12th. 

Canby,  by  signals,  learned  of  the  evacuation  of  the  city  the 
evening  of  the  llth,  and  had  troops  immediately  in  motion  for 
its  occupation.  Granger,  with  the  First  and  Third  divisions  of 
his  corps,  embarked  on  transports  at  Stark's  landing,  at  daylight 
of  the  12th,  and,  with  a  portion  of  the  squadron,  under  Thatcher, 
crossed  over  the  bay,  landing  two  miles  below  the  city,  and 
entered  it  unopposed.  The  Third  division  marched  on  to  Whist 
ler's  station,  and  overtook  and  skirmished  with  the  rear-guard  of 
the  confederate  column. 

It  was  not  Gen.  Canby's  purpose,  under  any  circumstances,  to 
besiege  Mobile  from  the  land  side.  If  the  city  had  held  out 
longer,  he  would  have  moved  across  the  head  of  the  bay,  "by 
means  of  transports  and  pontoons,  and  established  batteries  on 
the  islands  in  front  of  the  city.  And  some  steps  toward  such  a 
movement  had  already  been  taken. 

2.  The  conduct  of  tlie  garrison  of  Blakely  is,  on  the  whole,  de 
serving  of  commendation.     The  troops'  manifested  much  energy 
and  spirit  during  the  siege,  often  making  bold  sallies  in  the 
night,  and  disturbing  the  besiegers.     They  were  expecting  an 
assault  about  the  time  it  took  place,  and  felt  considerable  confi- 


224  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

dence  they  could  repulse  it.  Had  an  assault  been  made  before 
the  fall  of  Spanish  fort,  it  would  probably  have  been  more 
bloody,  though  not  repulsed  ;  for  the  garrison  would  have  had 
more  hope  .in  resisting.  But,  after  they  knew  that  fifteen  ov 
twenty  thousand  more  troops  had  come  up  from  Spanish  fort 
(these,  however,  were  two  miles  in  the  rear  in  their  camps),  they 
had  reason  to  feel  that  the  odds  against  them  were  too  great  for 
successful  resistance.  The  assaulting  troops  had  the  moral 
reinforcement  of  the  Spanish  fort  troops. 

The  garrison  had  a  large  number  of  sharpshooters  or  skir 
mishers  in  pits  three  hundred  yards  in  front  of  their  main 
works.  These  had  an  opportunity  to  fire  only  one  or  two 
rounds,  and  then  fell  back  ;  but  there  being  no  covered  way, 
and  not  being  able,  on  account  of  the  obstacles,  to  move 
rapidly,  they  were  for  a  short  time  a  sort  of  cover  to  the 
assaulting  troops,  embarrassing,  if  not  preventing,  the  fire  of 
those  behind  the  main  works.  If,  instead  of  being  three  hun 
dred  yards  to  the  front,  they  had  been  in  pits  fifty  yards  in 
front,  with  approaches  to  the  main  works,  a  double  line  of 
musketry  fire  could  then  have  been  poured  on  the  assaulting 
troops  just  as  they  were  reaching  the  most  difficult  abatis. 

The  rules  for  defending  fortifications  require  the  garrison  to 
mount  the  parapet  when  they  find  the  assaulting  troops  are 
attacking  closely.  This  does  not  appear  to  have  been  done 
anywhere  on  the  line. 

3.  But  it  was  a  mistake  to  keep  the  garrison  at  Blakely  an 
hour   after  the   fall   of    Spanish   fort.      Every  possible   means 
should  have  been  used  to  remove  it  before  an  assault  could  be 
made.     But  Gen.  Maury  alleges  :  "  It  would  have  been  difficult 
to  do  this  after  day  dawned,  and  up  to  that  time  all  of  Span 
ish   fort   garrison  had  not  been   transferred  from   Blakely  to 
Mobile." 

4.  Gen.  Maury,  in  an  account  which  he  wrote  of  the  siege, 


CAMPAIGN     OP     MOBILE.  '  225 

makes  the  just  remark,  that  "  the  marshes  about  Mobile,  as 
marshes  almost  everywhere  else,  produced  a  greater  moral 
effect  upon  besiegers  and  besieged  than  facts  justified."  On 
account  of  the  existence  of  a  swamp  on  the  left  of  the 
besiegers,  the  investment  of  Blakely  was  not  complete  on  that 
flank  to  within  four  or  five  hundred  yards.  The  swamp  was 
narrow,  and  could  have  been  bridged,  and  there  was  no  good 
excuse  for  the  investment  being  incomplete. 

5.  Whether  the   time  for   the    assault    was  favorable,  is   an 
interesting  question,   and  will  doubtless   be   answered  affirma 
tively.      The    troops  engaged   in   it   had  the   moral  support  of 
the  presence  of  the   rest  of  the   army  which  had  come  from 
Spanish   fort.     When   the  garrison    saw    the    assaulting    lines 
advancing,  they  felt  that  the  woods  behind  them  were  also  full 
of  troops ;  for  they  had  heard  of  heavy  columns  moving  over 
Minette  bayou.     Suppose  the  assault  had  taken  place  the  day 
.before?     Is  it  not  probable   the   resistance   would  have  been 
greater  ?     They  certainly  would  have  had  more  hope  of  effect 
ing  a  repulse.     As  it  was,  the  general  assault  was  not  repulsed 
at  any  point. 

It  is  probable  Gen.  Steele  would  not  have  ordered  a  general 
assault  for  two  or  three  days  longer  had  it  not  been  for  the  fall 
of  Spanish  fort,  such  was  the  distance — from  five  to  six  hundred 
yards — to  charge  over.  But  it  perhaps  saved  life  that "  the 
assault  was  made  from  the  third  parallel,  and  without  waiting 
till  a  fourth  was  dug,  The  besiegers  had  come  upon  torpedoes  in 
their  digging,  and  doubtless  many  lives  would  have  been  lost  by 
farther  extending  the  approaches  and  trenches.  After  the 
assault,  it  was  ascertained  the  advance  trench,  on  the  right  of 
the  Second  division,  ran  between  two  rows  of  torpedoes  ! 

6.  The  besiegers  deserve  commendation  for  the   amount  of 
work  they  performed.     And,  it  should  be  remarked,  that  not  one 
of  their  number  was  captured.     Yet,  unouestionably,  more  work 

15 


226  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

might  liave  been  performed;  for  there  are  few  operations  in 
which  the  energy  and  industry  of  men  are  exhausted.  Each 
division  constructed  its  works  according  to  its  own  plans,  and 
with  but  little,  if  any,  outside  professional  assistance.  Several 
miles  of  trenches  and  approaches  were  made,  and  they  will  long 
remain  as  proof  of  the  labor  that  was  done.  Over  the  field  ox 
Blakely  the  bushes  are  beginning  to  grow  up,  and  in  a  few  years 
another  forest  will  no  doubt  cover  the  ground.  But  many  of 
the  trenches  will  remain.  The  storms  of  centuries  will  not  wear 
them  away. 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

REDUCTION  OF  FORTS  HUGER  AND  TRACY. 

FORTS  Huger  and  Tracy  held  out  three  days  after  the  fall 
of  Spanish  fort.  They  were  not  days  of  quiet.  Guns  were 
now  turned  on  them  from  McDermett  and  old  Spanish 
fort.  The  Octorara  approached  nearer  and  delivered  a  more 
unerring  and  effective  fire.  The  old  and  a  new  battery 
on  Bay  Minette  shore  also  hurled  against  them  a  copious 
shower  of  heavy  projectiles.  Both  those  forts  replied  with 
spirit.  Their  garrisons  expected  soon  to  evacuate,  and  were 
lavish  of  ammunition. 

April  9. — Capt.  Foust's  battery  (First  Missouri)  moved  into 
old  Spanish  fort,  unspiked  two  one-hundred-pounder  Brooks' 
rifles,  and  opened  them  on  Huger.  In  the  evening  one  of  them 
was  bursted.  Another  one-hundred-pounder  Parrott,  under 
Lieut.  Parker  (First  Indiana),  was  put  in  the  Bay  Minette 
shore  battery,  making  two  there  of  that  calibre,  which  were 
also  engaged.  On  the  north  shore  of  that  bayou,  batteries 
were  begun  for  two  more  one- hundred-pounder  rifles  and  four 
thirty-pounder  rifles. 

The  Navy. — At  twenty  minutes  past  one,  A.  M.,  the  squadron 
observed  lights  in  Old  Spanish  fort,  and  twenty  minutes 
afterward  they  received  a  message  through  the  army  signal 
officer,  that  the  works  were  evacuated. 

Torpedoes  still  held  the  navy  in  check ;  but  energetic  efforts 
were  being  made  to  remove  them.  About  one  hundred  and 
fifty  had  already  been  removed.  A  second  net  having  been 


228  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

stretched  across  the  channel,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  above 
the  first  one,  the  intervening  part  of  the  channel  was  swept 
with  chains,  by  tugs.  At  forty  minutes  past  three,  p.  M.,  the 
Octorara  and  ironclads  weighed  and  stood  over  the  first  net, 
steamed  up  to  the  second,  and  came  to  anchor  a  thousand 
yards  below  Old  Spanish  fort.  The  tall  reeds  on  the  marsh 
so  obstructed  the  view  of  Huger,  that  range-stakes  were  neces 
sary  for  pointing  the  guns ;  and  as  the  reeds  would  not  burn, 
men  were  sent  on  shore  with  poles,  and  a  lane  was  beaten, 
through  which  the  fort  could  be  seen. 

The  Octorara  now  opened  fire  on  Huger  with  her  hundred- 
pounder  Parrott,  at  a  distance  of  five  thousand  four  hundred 
ya-rds — a  little  upward  of  three  miles!  Her  first  shots  fell 
short.  Some  of  the  Spanish  fort  garrison  had  not  yet  got 
away  from  Huger ;  the  noise  of  the  Octorara's  shells  were  famil 
iar  to  them,  and  they  joyfully  congratulated  themselves  when 
they  saw  them  fall  short.  Soon,  however,  a  shell  came  and 
plunged  into  the  river,  three  hundred  yards  above  the  fort. 
The  next  one  struck  the  very  centre  of  the  works,  making  their 
boggy  foundations  rock  and  tremble  (to  use  the  expression  of 
one  who  was  there)  like  a  ship  in  a  gale  of  wind.  The  sub 
sequent  shots  told  with  good  effect  on  their  bombproof s.  One 
man  was  killed. 

The  confederates  thought  the  Octorara's  gun  was  served  with 
remarkable  skill.  It  was  a  saying  among  them  that  it  must  be 
served  by  "one-eyed  Brannegan,"  a  famous  gunner  and  deserter 
from  their  service.  They  considered  indeed  that  it  was  handled 
with  skill  surpassing  that  of  Sergeant  Bonner,  of  the  Twenty- 
second  Louisiana  regiment,  who  was  celebrated  in  the  confede 
rate  service  for  his  efficiency  in  that  respect. 

The  captain  of  this  hundred-pounder  gun  on  the  Octorara, 
and  who  fired  every  round,  was  James  Welsch,  chief  boatswain's 
mate,  an  old  man-of-war's  man.  He  was  subsequently  dis- 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  229 

charged  at  the  end  of  his  three-years  term  of  seivice.  His  skill 
was  remarkable,  and  there  should  be  inducements  for  such  men 
to  remain  in  the  navy. 

The  gun  itself  was  a  navy-Parrott  rifle,  manufactured  at  the 
West  Point  foundry,  under  the  supervision  of  its  designer. 
Eighty-pound  Parrott  shells  were  fired  from  it,  with  the  reduced 
charge  of  eight  pounds  of  powder. 

April  10. — The  morning  of  the  10th  was  thick,  and  a  shell 
fired  at  daylight,  showed  that  it  was  best  to  suspend  the  fire. 
At  half  past  nine,  it  was  resumed  in  reply  to  guns  which  had 
opened  on  the  Mustang,  in  which  Gen.  Bailey  had  gone  up  to 
Spanish  fort,  and  continued  slowly  for  two  hours.  At  forty 
minutes  past  one,  p.  M.,  the  guns  of  Huger  were  firing  on  the 
squadron's  boats,  which  were  sweeping  for  torpedoes;  and  the 
Octorara  again  opened  fire  in  reply.  But  during  the  day  she 
fired  only  seventy -three  rounds.  In  course  of  the  day  the  tug 
Glasgow  came  up  with  Commodore  James  S.  Palmer  on  board, 
and  being  beyond  signal  distance  from  the  Admiral's  ship,  his 
pendant  as  divisional  commander,  was  hoisted. 

Lieut.  Beardsley,  with  Company  K,  Sixth  Michigan,  niovad 
into  Old  Spanish  fort  in  the  forenoon,  and  relieved  Capt.  Foust. 
Besides  serving  the  one  hundred-pounder,  Beardsley  got  a  new 
thirty-pounder  Parrott  (made  at  Selma  only  a  few  months 
before)  in  position  and  at  work.  At  four,  p.  M.,  Capt.  Fousfc  com 
menced  with  two  of  his  light  pieces,  and  at  five,  P.  M.,  Beardsley 
got  a  twenty-pounder  Parrott  unspiked  and  at  work.  All  the 
while  the  fire  from  Huger  and  Tracy  was  tremendous,  for  they 
were  using  more  than  a  dozen  heavy  guns  without  mercy,  and 
made  it  deathly  hot  around  Old  Spanish  fort.  A  detachment  of 
the  Ninety -fourth  Illinois  opened  fire  with  a  thirty-pounder  on 
McDermett. 

April  11. — Foust's  battery  had  been  firing  all  night.  At 
eleven  o'clock  of  the  same  night,  Lieut.  Beardsley,  with  ten 


230  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

men   of    his    company,   got    a    hundred-pounder   Brooks    rifle 
mounted  in  McDermett  on  a  new  carriage  the  garrison  had  just 
procured,  but  not  used.     Much  to  his  surprise,  Beardsley  found 
that  the  gun  was  spiked  and  shotted.     They  then  worked  till  it 
was  just  daylight,  when  they  succeeded  in  blowing  out  the  spike 
by  firing  the  gun  from  the  muzzle.      They  had  scarcely  lain 
down  to  get  a  little  sleep  when  the  guns  from  Huger  opened  on 
them.     They  then  jumped  up  and  returned  the  fire  with  the 
one-hundred-pounder.     The  firing  continued  heavy  and  grand 
through  the  day.     It  was  the  last  day  for  great  guns  in  Mobile 
bay — the  last  for  the  war.      The  smoke  rolled  up  in  cloudy 
columns.     The  bellowing  peals  reverberated  far  inland  and  far 
out  upon  the  sea.     Four  thirty-pounders,  from  the  north  shore 
of  Bay  Minette,  fired  on  Tracy.     On  the  south  shore,  the  two 
one-hundred-pounders,  with   the   eight   thirty-pounders    of  the 
First  Indiana,  were  still  engaged.     Likewise  the  guns  at  Old 
Spanish  fort,  manned  by  Foust's  company.     During  the  day,  a 
salute  of  one  hundred  shotted  rounds  was  fired  in  honor  of  the 
national  victories.     Some   twenty  guns,   in    all,   of    the    land- 
batteries  were  delivering  a   destructive  fire  on  those  forts.     A 
battery  was  also  in  progress  on  the  north  shore  of  Bay  Minette 
for  two  one-hundred-pounders  and  four  thirty-pounders.     From 
Huger,  shot  after  shot  came  in  quick  succession,  ploughing  up 
the  ground  about  McDermett.     One  shot  destroyed  a  wheel  of 
a  thirty-pounder,  and  six  shots  were  buried  in  the  magazine. 

The  Octorara  was  also  engaged  at  intervals  during  the  day 
with  her  one-hundred-pounder. 

In  the  evening,  the  guns  of  E[uger  and  Tracy  ceased  their 
mighty  roar,  but  not  till  the  garrisons  were  ready  to  leave. 

In  the  evening,  Gon.  A.  J.  Smith,  with  a  detachment  of  his 
corps,  went  down  to  the  shore  of  Bay  Minette,  intending  to 
move  out  in  the  night  in  boats  and  flats  and  carry  Huger  and 
Tracy  by  assault.  About  *ten,  p.  M.,  a  signal  officer,  with  orders 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  231 

from  him,  went  to  Armstrong's  battery  to  have  the  firing  cease. 
This  being  complied  with,  the  officers  soon  after  turned  their 
attention  intently  on  those  forts.  As  tXey  sat  peering  through 
the  darkness,  with  their  glasses  in  the  direction  of  Huger,  they 
saw  the  glimmer  of  lanterns  passing  to  and  fro,  and  at  about 
half-past  ten,  signal  lights  were  seen.  The  indications  were 
that  the  forts  were  being  evacuated. 

At  about  nine  in  the  evening,  the  first  cutter  of  the  Octorara, 
on  picket  just  below  Huger,  fell  in  with  a  skiff  that  v/as  pulling 
down  the  river.  In  the  skiff  were  eight  men  who  represented 
themselves  to  be  refugees  and  deserters  from  that  fort.  They 
said,  in  answer  to  questions,  that  Huger  and  Tracy  had  been 
hastily  evacuated  immediately  after  dark,  and  that  the  armament 
and  ordnance  stores  had  not  bc.^n  destroyed.  This  information 
was  communicated  to  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  boats  sweeping 
for  torpedoes.  A  landing  was  made  at  the  forts,  and  they  were 
taken  possession  of  by  the  officers  and  men  of  the  boats.  It 
seemed  a  happy  and  fitting  circumstance  that  these  forts  should 
first  come  into  the  possession  of  the  navy,  not  because  the  navy 
had  done  the  most  toward  compelling  their  evacuation,  but 
because  it  had  done  all  it  was  possible  to  do,  and  in  a  good 
spirit.  Yet,  in  the  honors  of  victory  all,  of  course,  have  a  share. 
It  is  seldom,  if  ever,  that  any  particular  organization  has  a  right 
to  claim  them  entire  ;  or  to  claim  a  specific  share. 

This  night  the  pontoniers  happened  to  be  on  duty  in  itiose 
waters'.  They  had  come  to  take  away  the  canvas  bridge— 
the  lower  one  on  the  bayou — and  in  some  way,  it  seems,  got 
knowledge  of  the  evacuation  and  -entered  the  forts  themsttves. 
The  next  day  the  guns  in  those  forts  had  inscriptions  on  them 
to  this  effect :  "  Eleven  o'clock,  p.  M.,  April  11.  Captured  Iry 
the  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Illinois"  (pontoniers).  Also^ 
the  names  of  individual  soldiers.  This  was  an  excellent  joke, 
and  a  fine  sarcasm  on  those  thoughtless  men  who  would  parcel 


232  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

out  the  honors  of  conquest.  For  pontoniers,  though  nc4 
expected  to  be  the  first  inside  a  captured  fort,  havs  a  share  iu 
the  glory  of  the  victory. 

Wednesday,  April  12. — Tho  channel  was  swept  with  chains, 
by  tugs,  and  the  Octorara  and  ironclads,  preceded  by  the  Glas 
gow,  steamed  up  to  the  obstructions  at  Huger.  The  Glasgow 
passed  through  the  gap.  During  the  night,  a  boat  from  the 
Octorara  went  up  the  Blakely  river  to  the  Tensas,  and  ascer 
tained  there  were  no  other  obstructions.  At  daylight  on  the 
13th,  the  Octorara  attempted  to  follow  the  Glasgow  through 
the  obstructions  of  the  gap,  but  did  not  succeed.  The  channel 
was  then  blown  out,  and  the  wreck  of  a  sunken  scow  removed. 
At  about  noon,  the  Octorara  and  the  ironclads  steamed  through 
the  gap  and  through  Tensas  and  Spanish  rivers,  anchoring  off 
Mobile  at  about  eight  o'clock,  p.  M. 

Admiral  Thatcher  was  already  off  Mobile,  having  the  day 
previous,  with  a  portion  of  the  squadron,  accompanied  Granger's 
forces  across  the  bay  from  Stark' s  landing. 

A  few  days  afterward  the  Sixteenth  corps  marched  rapidly  to 
Montgomery.  Steele,  with  his  command,  proceeded  to  the  same 
place  on  transports,  leaving,  however,  one  division  at  Selma. 

The  campaign  may  be  said  to  have  occupied  twenty-two 
days.1  The  result  has  been  sesn.  The  number  of  prisoners 
accounted  for  by  Canby's  provost-marshal  general  was  four 
thousand  nine  hundred  and  twenty-four.  His  own  loss  in 
killed  and  wounded  was  fifteen  hundred. 

1  Strength  of  Canby's  army  in  the  field : 

Two  divisions,  and  one  brigade  of  Thirteenth  corps,  .    13,200 

Sixteenth  corps,    ..".....  16,000 

Engineers,  artillery,  arid  cavalry,       .         .         .         .  .       3,000 


Total, 32,200 

Column  under  Steele, 13,200 

Grand  total,        ,*  45,400 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

ADVENTURES  AND.  INCIDENTS. 

THE  wheel  of  fortune  does  not  always  withhold  its  honora 
from  those  who,  at  obscure  posts,  are  constant  and  faithful. 

During  the  siege  of  Spanish  fort,  the  base  of  supplies  for  the 
army  was  at  Stark's  landing.  The  commanding  officer  at  a 
base,  every  one  will  admit,  should  be  energetic,  vigilant,  ancl 
prudent.  Wharves  are  to  be  built — labor  day  and  night  to  be 
performed — ordnance  and  ammunition  are  to  be  received — 
ressels  laden  with  provisions  and  forage  are  to  arrive  and 
be  promptly  discharged — sick  and  wounded  soldiers  are  to 
be  put  aboard  vessels  and  sent  off.  Industry,  good  order, 
humanity,  should  prevail.  The  quartermaster  and  commissary 
have  much  responsibility,  but  the  military  commander  present 
is  also  responsible  that  everything  goes  right. 

The  officer  in  command  at  Stark's  landing,  also  in  command 
of  the  engineers,  was  Gen.  Bailey,  well-known  for  distinguished 
service  in  building  a  dam  on  Red  river.  While  the  inspiring 
scenes  of  battle  had  been  occurring  some  distance  off,  yet  in  his 
hearing,  he  had  been  performing  the  duties  of  a  more  secluded 
position. 

On  the  9th  of  April,  Gen.  Canby  being  at  Blakely,  and 
anxious  to  get  transports  up  to  Spanish  fort,  inquired,  through 
Gen.  Osterhaus,  chief  of  staff,  by  telegraph,  of  Bailey,  if  he 
could  find  some  courageous  captain,  who  would  move  up  and 
try  the  channel  ? 

Gen.  Bailey  replied,  that  he  would  try  to  find  a  captain  of  a 


234  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

vessel  who  would  go  ;  but,  tliat  failing  to  find  one,  lie  would  go 
himself.  Not  long  afterward  he  telegraphed  again  to  Gen. 
Canby's  headquarters,  that  the  Mustang  had  come  in,  and  that 
he  would  go  up  on  her  as  soon  as  her  freight  was  discharged, 
which  was  being  rapidly  done  ;  and  inquired  whether  it  would 
be  better  to  go  that  evening  or  wait  till  morning.  An  answer 
promptly  came,  to  wait  till  morning  ;  and  that  the  commanding 
general  felt  much  regret  that  he  had  determined  to  go  himself 
.on  so  perilous  an  adventure. 

On  the  morning  of  the  10th,  Gen.  Bailey,  with  his  staff,  Maj. 
t3r.  Pien,  Fourth  Wisconsin  cavalry,  Capt.  J.  H.  Meredith, 
Lieuts.  Nolan,  Hill,  Martin,  and  Burdick,  embarked  on  the 
Mustang.  She  was  a  steamer  which  had  formerly  ran  on  the 
Eio  Grande,  but  was  now  about  worn  out. 

Having  got  into  the  channel,  she  soon  passed  the  admiral's 
flag-ship,  then;  farther  on,  the  monitors,  and  near  them  the 
three  sunken  ironclads,  their  hulls  now  just  above  the  water. 
Some  hundred  yards  more  brought  her  to  the  first  torpedo  net. 
Her  wheels  stopped,  and  she  glided  over  it.  Half  a  mile 
farther  they  reached  the  Octorara,  the  advance  gunboat,  and 
there  anchored.  Gen.  Bailey,  with  some  of  his  staff,  and  the 
captain  of  the  Mustang,  went  aboard  the  Octorara,  and  pro 
cured  information  concerning  the  channel.  He  also  learned 
the  progress  that  had  been  made  in  taking  up  torpedoes  ;  and 
•that  there  was  scarcely  any  clanger  in  a  light-draft  boat,  like 
the  Mustang  (drawing  only  two  and  a  half  feet)  going  to 
Spanish  fort  landing  ;  as  boats  and  tugs  of  the  squadron,  draw 
ing  about  as  much,  had  been  above  there.  He  also  learned 
that  he  would,  in  all  probability,  draw  the  fire  of  Fort  Huger. 
The  Mustang  then  steamed  on  up  the  river,  and  soon  passed 
•  over  the  second  net,  from  which  several  torpedoes  had  been 
taken  the  night  before.  After  passing  this,  they  had  some 
cause  to  apprehend  danger  from  floating  torpedoes.  But  their 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  235 

boats  were  ready  to  launch  in  case  of  accident.  Finally,  they 
reached  the  landing  at  Spanish  fort  in  safety. 

On  going  ashore,  Gen.  Bailey  proceeded  to  the  quarters  oi 
Col.  Bertram  ;  and  had  been  there  but  a  few  minutes,  when  a 
signal-officer  came  in  and  informed  him  that  the  commander  at 
Tracy  had  ordered  every  gun  of  Huger  to  be  "  brought  to  bear 
011  that  steamer,  and,  for  G-d's  sake,  to  sink  her."  At  this 
announcement,  Gen.  Bailey,  and  staff,  hastened  on  board,  to 
put  back  to  Stark's  landing.  But  the  Mustang  was  slow  in 
turning,  and  getting  into  the  channel,  and  sliot  and  shell  were 
all  the  while  coming  from  Huger.  Forty-one  were  fired  at  the 
Mustang,  a  few  striking  her,  but  they  caused  no  serious  injury, 
though  an  explosion  of  one  of  the  shells  disagreeably  be 
sprinkled  some  of  the  party  with  earth  and  sand. 

She  got  back  safely  to  Stark's  landing,  having  been  gone  four 
hours,  and  Bailey  reported  the  result  of  his  trip.  The  com 
manding  general  telegraphed  the  following  reply  :  "  Your  inter 
esting  report  of  the  expedition  to  Spanish  fort  is  received  ;  and 
the  promptness  and  signal  bravery  displayed  by  you  are  highly 
appreciated." 

Incidents  of  tlic  Siege. — Keckless  exposure  of  life  in  a  siege 
commands  -no  part  of  that  applause  which  is  earned  by  daring 
in  its  true  sense.  Yet,  light  censure  will  be  cast  on  such  exam 
ples,  considering  the  tendency  for  msn  to  grow  timid  by  long 
continued  service  in  trenches. 

The  daily  history  of  every  regiment  in  the  siege  would  doubt- 
'•oss  exhibit  individual  acts  of  gallantry,  and  even  of  rashness, 
on  the  part  of  the  enlisted  men. 

On  the  second  day  of  the  siege,  Company  D,  Seventh  Minne 
sota,  was  on  the  skirmish-line  in  Me  Arthur's  front,  and  had 
approached,  under  cover  of  logs  and  stumps,  to  within  about 
three  hundred  and  fi-iy  yards  of  the  garrison's  main  line  of 
works.  Sergeants  Yidito  and  Caniield,  and  Private  Leigh  ton, 


236  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

were  farthest  advanced,  and  in  short  musket-range  of  the  con 
federates.  They  were  each  six  foot  high,  and  when  they  fired, 
would  rise  from  behind  a  log,  stand  deliberately,  ana  aim,  dis 
charge  their  muskets,  and  watch  to  see  the  effect.  It  was  only 
after  repeated  commands  from  their  captain  that  they  became 
more  cautious. 

The  consequence  of  unnecessary  exposure  was  more  apt  to  be 
like  what  occurred  in  the  following  case  :  On  the  5th  of  April,  a 
man  of  the  Thirty -fifth  Wisconsin  persisted  in  standing  on  the 
bank  in  rear  of  the  sunken  battery  of  the  Sixth  Michigan.  On 
being  told  by  one  of  the  men  that  he  would  be  hit,  replied  . 
"  The  ball  isn't  moulded  yet  that  would  hit  me."  Scarcely  had 
the  words  been  uttered  when  he  received  a  ball  through  bis 
right  elbow  ;  a  wound  that  lost  the  poor  fellow  his  arm. 

When  the  annals  of  war  are  truly  written,  painful  blunders  are 
often  disclosed,  which  repress  the  exultation  of  victory. 

The  night  Spanish  fort  was  being  evacuated,  two  federal 
soldiers,  who  had  been  for  some  time  held  as  prisoners  at  Fort 
Tracy,  managed,  amid  the  darkness  and  confusion,  to  make 
their  escape  in  a  skiff.  Beaching  the  main  land,  they  r/.oved 
cautiously  along  the  shore  ;  but  some  of  the  federals  having 
followed  down  after  the  retreating  garrison,  heard  the  rustling 
of  the  bushes,  and  thinking  it  was  some  straggling  confederates, 
challenged  them  to  surrender.  Presuming  the  demand  came 
from  confederates,  the  fugitives  made  no  answer,  whereupon 
they  were  fired  on,  and  one  of  them  was  instantly  killed.  The 
other  cried  for  quarter,  and  soon  found  himself  among  friends. 
The  body  of  his  dead  comrade  was  secured  and  buried  with 
funeral  honors. 

So,  during  the  siege,  each  side  lost  a  few  killed  by  the 
accidents  or  mistakes  of  its  own  firing. 

The  night  before  the  final  bombardment,  Capt.  Garrity  and 
a  man  of  his  battery  made  their  way  up  to  where  the  federals. 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  237 

in  Me  Arthur's  front,  were  digging  an  approach,  and  so  close 
that  some  of  the  dirt  was  thrown  upon  them.  Garrity  listened 
to  the  talk  of  the  men,  and  heard  them  say,  "  We'll  give  the 
rebels to-morrow." 

One  night,  in  the  same  division  front,  some  confederates 
came  out  to  relieve  the  sharpshooters,  and  the  federals  gave 
them  a  volley  that  quite  disconcerted  them,  and  drove  the 
most  of  them  back  into  the  main  works.  In  the  excitement, 
one  of  their  number,  a  son  of  Erin,  ran  up  to  one  of  the  federal 
pits,  and  stooping  down,  anxiously  inquired,  "  Is  this  No.  3  ?" 
"  Yes  ;  j-ump  down  quick  !"  was  the  answer.  Down  he  jumped, 
a  prisoner. 

One  night,  the  Eighth  Wisconsin  skirmishers  captured  a 
small  confederate  post  of  three  men,  one  of  whom  was  an 
Irishman.  He  was  asked  if  the  confederates  had  any  torpedoes 
in  their  front,  and  replied,  "  I  trod  light  when  I  came  out." 

Sometimes  the  firing  between  the  federal  and  confederate 
sharpshooters  would  cease,  and  there  would  be  some  conver 
sation  between  them.  It  was,  however,  specially  prohibited, 
on  the  part  of  the  latter,  by  the  garrison  commander ;  yet  the 
men  were  instructed  by  every  means  practicable  to  exaggerate 
the  numbers  of  the  garrison. 

Conversation,  when  it  occurred,  was  generally  jocular  and 
sarcastic  in  its  character,  and  often  partook  of  criticism  of  the 
artillery.  When  a  federal  addressed  a  confederate,  he  called 
out,  "Holloa,  Johnny."  The  confederate  answered,  "Holloa, 
Yank."  One  day,  in  front  of  McDermett,  a  federal  soldier  had 
called  out  to  the  confederates  several  times,  but  got  no  answer. 
Finally,  in  good  earnest,  he  asked  why  they  so  refused  to 
answer.  The  confederate  replied,  "Because  you  all  insult  us 
so  when  we  talk  with  you." 

Soldiers  are  proverbial  for  their  wit  and  good  humor,  and  the 
confederates  were  no  exception  to  the  rule.  They  used  to  say, 


238  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

"Jeff.  Davis  will  have  to  rent  a  piece  of  land  to  fight  the  war  out 
on."  They  often  declared,  "We  are  fighting  for  our  rights  in  the 
territories  under  the  Dred  Scott  decision." 

In  Spanish  fort  the  artillerists  named  their  heavy  guntf  in 
honor  of  the  ladies  of  their  officers,  with  the  name  in  large  capi 
tals  placarded  on  the  gun  as  "  The  Lady  Gibson,"  "  The  Lady 
Slocum,"  "The  Lady  Maury,"  &c.,  &c.  The  gunners  spoke  of 
them  by  these  names  instead  of  No.  1,  2,  &c.,  and  were  always 
exceedingly  polite  and  complimentary  to  them.  They  also 
named  the  federal  guns,  but  called  them  "  Anna  Maria,"  "  Sarah 
Jane,"  "Elizabeth  Ann,"  &c.,  &c.  And  when  a  federal  gun 
fired,  the  sentinel  would  say,  "  Look  out,  boys,  Anna  Maria  is 
going  to  speak."  It  would  pass  down  the  line,  and  all  knew  in 
advance  the  direction  the  shot  would  come,  and  get  shelter. 
Then  when  one  of  their  guns  was  to  be  fired,  they  would  say, 
"  Ah,  my  lads !  Look  out  now  for  the  Lady  Slocum ;  when  she 
speaks  the  Yanks  must  hush  up  and  hide." 

The  effect  of  some  of  the  shells  was  fearful.  One  day  a  fede 
ral  mortar  shell  fell  inside  the  garrison  works,  plunged  through 
seven  feet  of  earth  and  logs,  and  killed  four  men  and  wounded 
three,  all  of  whom  were  asleep.  One  of  the  men  was  thrown  up 
twenty  feet  into  the  air  and  came  down  dead,  of  course,  for 
every  bone  in  him  was  broken  ;  but  he  was  not  at  all  torn. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

FURTHER  OPERATIONS  OF  LUCAS'  CAVALRY— COMBAT  OF    .IOUNT 

PLEASANT. 

ON  the  morning  of  April  5,  Gen.  Lucas  moved  out  from 
near  Blakelj  with  all  of  his  command,  except  the  Thirty-first 
Massachusetts  mounted  infantry,  taking  ten  days'  half  rations, 
and  all  the  forage  the  men  could  carry,  to  occupy  Claiborne,  on 
the  Alabama  river.  The  same  night  he  camped  at  Stockton, 
and  the  next  morning  continued  his  march.  On  the  fore 
noon  of  the  7th,  while  halting  to  feed,  a  freedman  came  to 
him,  on  his  way  from  Gen.  Wilson,  bearing  despatches  from  that 
olncer  to  Gen.  Canby.  He  had  come  down  the  river,  having 
passed  through  more  than  one  confederate  camp,  but  had  eluded 
detection.  The  papers  were  carefully  sewed  up  in  tire  collar  of 
his  vest.  Gen.  Lucas  furnished  the  faithful  man  a  mule  to  ride, 
and  sent  him  on  to  Gen.  Canby,  with  a  guard,  under  a  sergeant. 

Combat  of  Mount  Pleasant. — From  the  same  bearer  of  des 
patches,  Lucas  learned  that  a  force  had  recently  come  up  from 
Mobile  and.  occupied  Claiborne  ;  and  he  resolved  to  capture  it. 
With  that  view,  he  marched  till  a  late  hour  in  the  night.  Start 
ing  at  daylight  the  next  morning,  April  8th,  some  delay  was 
soon  after  experienced  in  repairing  a  bridge  so  as  to  cross  his 
artillery.  At  Mount  Pleasant,  Maj.  Ives,  with  a  battalion  of  the 
First  Louisiana  cavalry,  had  dispersed  a  detachment  of  militia. 
The  column  halted  an  hour  at  that  place  to  feed,  and  on  resum 
ing  the  march,  Maj.  Ives  kept  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  advance. 
In  course  of  an  hour,  while  marching  along  in  the  wood,  where 


240  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

the  ground  was  swampy,  liis  battalion  was  met  unexpectedly  by 
a  sharp  volley  of  musketry,  proceeding  from  a  force  drawn  up  in 
line  of  battle,  but  nearly  concealed,  on  the  farther  side  of  a 
piece  of  low  ground,  T_ie  suddenness  of  the  attack  checked 
the  advaD.ce,  and,  for  a  moment,  threw  it  into  confusion ;  but 
ocder  was  soom  restored,  and  Maj.  Ives  deployed  his  small  force, 
answered  the  fire,  yet  had  to  fall  back,  though  slowly.  Lucas 
being  near  at  hand,  ordered  the  remainder  of  the  First  Louisi 
ana,  under  Lieut. -Col.  Badger,  forward  at  the  gallop,  and  the 
rest  of  the  column  to  follow  at  a  trot.  The  First  Louisiana, 
having  deployed,  made  a  gallant  charge  on  the  attacking  force. 
The  latter  consisted  of  the  Fifteenth  confederate  cavalry.  It 
was  well  posted ;  but  the  charge  was  so  spirited  and  well 
supported  that  they  made  but  brief  resistance,  and  then  gave 
way.  Lucas  pursued  with  vigor  for  two  miles,  capturing  two 
battle-flags,  three  commissioned  officers,  and  sixty  men,  with 
many  horses  and  arms.  The  victory  would  have  been  moro 
complete  but  for  the  miry  nature  of  the  ground.  The  loss  in 
Lucas'  command  was  confined  to  the  First  Louisiana,  and  con 
sisted  of  two  men  killed,  and  one  commissioned  officer  (Lieut. 
Boyle)  and  four  men  wounded.  The  casualties  of  the  Fifteenth 
confederate  were  reported  to  be  greater.  That  regiment  retired 
north,  moving  rapidly  through  Claiborne.  Lucas  reached 
that  place  at  eleven,  p.  M.,  and  went  into  camp.  "While  there, 
his  scouts  captured  several  more  prisoners,  some  of  whom 
were  officers  or  agents  of  importance,  and  by  the  18th,  the 
whole  number  in  his  possession  was  one  hundred  and  fifty. 
On  that  day,  pursuant  to  orders  from  Gen.  Canby,  he  marched 
for  Blakely. 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

OPERATIONS  OF  WILSON'S  CAVALRY  IN  ALABAMA. 

WHILE  Canby  was  moving  upon  Mobile,  Thomas  caused  a 
dive-rsion  to  be  made  in  his  favor  by  a  column  of  cavalry 
under  Brevet  Maj.-Gen.  J.  H.  Wilson.  But  the  operations  of 
that  column  included  results  beyond  those  of  a  co-operative 
character ;  and  they  have  hardly  ever  been  surpassed,  even 
by  the  achievements  of  Alexander. 

The  condition  and  purposes  of  the  confederates  in  Central 
Alabama  show  that  the  flank  and  rear  of  Canby's  army 
would  have  been  much  harassed  but  for  W7ilson's  movement. 
Lieut.-Gen.  Taylor,  commanding  the  department  of  Alabama, 
Mississippi,  and  East  Louisiana,  in  some  respects,  it  is  true, 
was  in  straitened  circumstances.  He  could  no  longer  procure 
materials  nor  transportation  on  credit,  and  was  dependent  on  the 
funds  derived  from  the  produce  loan,  cotton  being  the  main 
article.  There  were  many  deserters  from  his  forces  j1  and  soon 
after  the  fall  of  Mobile  and  Selrna,  he  would  have  accepted 
colored  troops  but  for  a  lack  of  arms.2  Nevertheless,  there  was 

1  Capt.  Sarget  (A.  A.  G.),  to  Gen.  Hodges,  March  16. — Calls  his  attention  to 
the  large  number  of  deserters  and  absentees,  and  adds :  "  Employ  the  Texas 
and  Arkansas  troops  in  vigorously  hunting  down  all  those  who  fail  to  comply 
with  the  provisions  of  those  orders.    Some  cases  of  shooting  would  have  a 
beneficial  effect." 

2  April  15, 1865. — Mr.  Win.  Lyon,  of  Demopolis,  Ala.,  who,  on  behalf  of 
citizens  of  Marengo  and  adjoining  counties,  tenders  the  military  services  of 
negroes,  is  informed  that,  although  Lieut-Gen.  Taylor  has  no  instructions  from 
Richmond  on  the  subject,  he  would  accept  the  services  of  negro  troops  if  he 

16 


242  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

a  respectable  force  ready  for  service  in  the  field.  And  Taylor 
entertained  a  hope  that  he  would  be  able  to  defeat  the  federal 
columns  in  detail.1  Forrest,  having  command  of  the  cavalry, 
was  at  West  Point,  Mississippi.  On  the  23d  of  March,  Taylor 
ordered  troops  to  Greenville  to  resist  Sfceale,  who  was  then 
thought  to  be  moving  on  Montgomery.2  His  veteran  battalions 
were  directing  their  steps  southeastwardly,  when  the  rattling  of 
Wilson's  sabres  was  heard  from  the  north.3  Then  they  paused, 
and  soon  wheeled  about.  Taylor  hoped  he  would  be  able  to 
overpower  this  unexpected  column ;  and  he  promised  Maury 
that  when  he  had  accomplished  that  purpose  he  would  go  to  his 
assistance.4 

had  arms  for  them.  The  assistant  adjutant-general  requests  Mr.  Lyon  to  ascer 
tain  the  number  that  can  be  had. 

1  Lieut.-Gen.  Taylor  to  Gen.  E.  E  Lee:  "  Meridian,  Mar c7i  27 His 

[enemy's]    cavalry,  from  Florida  coast,  has   struck    Montgomery  railroad  at 
Evergreen.     A  raid  advancing  from  North,  arid  another  from  northeast  Ala 
bama,  toward  Selma  and  Montgomery.    Another  threatening   Prairie  region 
from  Memphis.     My  intention  is  to  meet  and  whip  these  detached  columns 
before  they  can  advance  far  into  the  country  or  unite  with  each  other." 

2  Copt.  Surget  to  Gen.  D.  W.  Adams,  Selma  or  Montevallo :  "  March  23. — 
Armistead  reports  enemy  moving.     Direct  Gen.  Buford  to  move  at  once  for 
Greenville  via  Selma,  or  point  where  pontoon  is.     Assist  the  movement  by 
sending  baggage  by  rail  and  steamboat.     Forrest  will  send  other  troops  to  con 
centrate  at  same  point.     Communicate  with  Armistead  and  dispose  troops  as 
movements  of  enemy  may  render  advisable.     Push  forward  completion  of  the 
pontoon  near  Selma." 

Capt.  Surget  to  Gen.  D.  W.  Adams :  "  March  25. — Greenville  is  the  point 
toward  which  all  troops  be  pushed  rapidly  as  possible." 

Same  to  Same. — "  Chalmers'  and  Jackson's  divisions  are  ordered  via  Finche's 
ferry  to  Selma." 

Taylor  to  Gen.  D.  W.  Adams,  Montevallo :  "  West  Point,  Miss.,  March  25. — 
Troops  are  being  pushed  forward  to  Selma  to  meet  raid  from  below.  Use 
every  exertion  to  prevent  them  cutting  road  to  Pollard  and  Columbus." 

3  Taylor  to  Forrest:    "March  27. — Gens.  Adams  and  Roddy  are  still  of 
opinion  that  it  is  a  large    and    well-equipped    cavalry   force   moving    from 
above." 

4  To  Gen.  Mauri/:  "March  28. — The  Lieutenant-General  hopes  in  three  or 
four  days  to  whip  the  large  raid  moving  from  north,  and  then  will  be  in  con 
dition  to  assist  you." 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  243 

Organization  of  Wilsons  Cavalry. — For  several  weeks  pre 
vious  to  the  campaign,  the  cavalry  corps  of  the  military  division 
of  the  Mississippi,  numbering  twenty-two  thousand,  had  been  in 
camp  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Tennessee,  at  Gravelly  Springs 
and  Waterloo.  The  surface  of  the  country  is  there  rolling ;  the 
soil  rocky.  The  men  had  comfortable  quarters,  the  horses  good 
shelter,  and  supplies  were  furnished  in  abundance.  The  fault 
in  the  cavalry  system  had  previously  been  overwork  in  detach 
ments,  and  the  absence  of  instruction  and  uniformity  of  equip 
ment.  Gen.  Wilson  instituted  a  thorough  system  of  instruction, 
and  every  necessary  effort  was  made  to  bring  the  corps  to  the 
highest  possible  state  of  efficiency.  The  troops  were  drilled  in 
the  double-rank  formation.  Wilson  discovers  the  true  genius  of 
a  soldier  when  he  says  that  the  future  victories  of  the  corps 
were  "  won  by  patient  industry  and  instruction  while  in  the  can 
tonments  of  Gravelly  Springs  and  Waterloo." 

Early  in  February,  Knipe's  division,  numbering  five  thousand, 
\ras  sent  round  by  water  to  Cahby,  leaving  under  Wilson's 
immediate  command  seventeen  thousand  men,  requiring  about 
five  thousand  horses  for  a  complete  remount.  The  lack  of  horses 
compelled  him,  reluctantly,  to  leave  Hatch's  division  at  East- 
port,  and  the  divisions  assigned  for  the  march,  were  the  First* 
Second,  and  Fourth,  commanded,  respectively,  by  McCook,  Long, 
and  Upton  ;  comprising,  in  all,  a  little  over  twelve  thousand 
mounted  men.  The  dismounted  men  of  the  three  divisions, 
numbering  fifteen  hundred,  were  designated  as  escort  for  the 
supply  train  ;  were  organized  into  battalions,  and  commanded 
by  Maj.  Archer. 

The  division  commanders  were  directed  to  see  that  every 
trooper  was  provided  with  five  days'  light  rations  in  haversacks, 
twenty-four  pounds  of  grain,  one  hundred  rounds  of  ammuni 
tion,  and  one  pair  of  extra  horseshoes  for  his  horse  ;  that  the 
pack-animals  vere  loaded  with  five  days'  rations  of  hard-bread, 


244  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

ten  of  sugar,  coffee,  and  salt ;  and  the  wagons  with  forty-five 
days'  rations  of  coffee,  twenty  of  sugar,  fifteen  of  salt,  and 
eighty  rounds  of  ammunition.  This  allowance  was  prescribed 
on  the  basis  of  a  sixty  days'  campaign,  and  under  the  supposi 
tion  that  the  command  would  be  able  to  supply  itself  from  tho 
country  through  which  it  marched,  with  everything  else  in 
abundance.  Only  enough  hard-bread  was  taken  to  last  through 
the  sterile  region  of  North  Alabama. 

The  supply  and  baggage  train  numbered  about  two  hundred 
and  fifty  wagons,  and  was  under  the  charge  of  Captain  W.  E. 
Brown,  acting  chief  quartermaster. 

In  addition,  there  was  a  light  canvas  pontoon  train  of  thirty 
boats,  transported  by  fifty  six-mule  wagons,  and  in  charge  of  a 
battalion  of  the  Twelfth  Missouri  cavalry,  Maj.  J.  M.  Hubbard 
commanding. l 

Wilson's  instructions  from  Lieut.-Gen.  Grant,  allowed  him  the 
amplest  discretion,  as  an  independent  commander. 

The  March. — As  the  rains  had  retarded  Canby's  columns,  so 
the  overflow  of  the  Tennessee  delayed  Wilson ;  and  it  turned 
out  that  there  was  a  happy  concurrence  in  their  movements. 
Wilson  commenced  crossing  the  Tennessee  on  the  18th  of 
March ;  and  at  daylight  of  the  22d,  the  order  of  march  having 
been  designated,  the  movement  began  from  Chickasaw.  The 
scanty  condition  of  the  country,  and  the  purpose  of  creating 
doubt  in  the  mind  of  the  enemy  as  to  the  real  object  of  the 
column,  rendered  it  prudent  that  it  should  move  on  diverging 
routes. 

"Upton's  division,  followed  by  his  train,  marched  rapidly  by 
the  most  easterly  route,  passing  Barton's  station,  Eusselville, 


1  Here,  and  in  many  of  the  following  pages,  I  borrow  largely  from  the 
report  of  Brevet  Maj.-Gen.  J.  H.  Wilson,  dated  Macon,  Georgia,  June  29, 
1.865. 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  245 

Mount  Hope,  and  Jasper,  to  Sanders'  ferry,  on  the  west  fork  oi 
the  Black  Warrior  river. 

Long's  division  marched  by  the  way  of  Cherokee  station  and 
Frankfort ;  but  being  encumbered  by  the  pontoon  train,  and 
having  mistaken  the  road  by  which  it  should  have  ascended 
the  mountain,  was  considerably  delayed  in  reaching  Russelville. 
Thence  it  marched  south,  by  the  Tuscaloosa  road,  till  it  crossed 
Upper  Bear  creek  ;  then  turned  to  the  eastAvard,  by  the  head  of 
Buttahatchie  creek,  crossed  Byler's  road  near  Thorn  hill,  and 
struck  Blackwater  creek  about  twenty-five  miles  from.  Jasper. 
The  crossing  of  the  last-mentioned  stream,  and  the  road  for  six 
miles  beyond,  were  as  bad  as  could  be,  but,  by  industry,  every 
thing  was  got  through  to  Jasper,  and  the  ford  on  the  Warrior, 
with  but  little  loss  of  time. 

McCook's  division  pursued  the  same  route  to  Bear  creek  on 
the  Tuscaloosa  road,  but  instead  of  turning  to  the  eastward 
at  that  place,  continued  the  march  toward  Tuscaloosa  as  far 
as  Eldridge,  and  thence  east  to  Jasper. 

In  this  order  the  whole  command  arrived  at  and  crossed  the 
Black  Warrior  river. 

The  ford  on  the  west  branch  was  extremely  difficult  of 
approach  as  well  as  of  passage.  The  country  on  both  sides, 
very  rugged  and  six  or  seven  hundred  feet  above  the  bed  of 
the  stream,  was  entirely  destitute  of  forage  ;  the  stream  itself 
was  at  the  time  likely  to  become  entirely  impassable  by  the  rain 
which  threatened  to  occur  at  any  moment.  Wilson,  therefore, 
having  heard  at  Jasper,  on  the  27th,  that  a  part  of  Forrest's 
force  under  Chalmers,  was  marching  by  way  of  B  ridge ville 
toward  Tuscaloosa,  and  apprehending  that  the  balance  of  For 
rest's  force  might  be  sent  in  the  same  direction,  directed  his 
division  commanders  to  replenish  the  haversack,  to  see  that 
the  pack  animals  were  fully  laden,  to  leave  all  the  wagons, 
except  the  artillery,  and  march  with  the  greatest  possible 


246  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

rapidity,  via  Ely  ton  to  Montevallo.  He  felt  confident  the 
enemy  would  endeavor  to  check  his  movement  with  the  hopo 
of  destroying  the  supply  train.  So  he  left  it  between  the  two 
streams,  with  instructions  to  have  it  pushed  on  as  far  as  Ely  ton, 
where  it  would  receive  further  orders.  In  crossing  the  two 
branches  of  the  Warrior  each  division  lost  a  few  horses,  but 
no  men. 

While  at  Elyton,  on  the  evening  of  the  30th,  Wilson  directed 
McCook  to  detach  Croxton's  brigade,  with  orders  to  move  on 
Tuscaloosa  as  rapidly  as  possible,  burn  the  public  stores,  mili 
tary  college,  bridges,  foundries,  and  factories  there,  return 
toward  the  main  column  by  the  way  of  Centerville  road, 
and  rejoin  it  at  or  in  the  vicinity  of  Selma.  Besides  covering 
the  trains  and  inflicting  a  heavy  blow  on  the  enemy,  Wilson 
hoped  by  that  detachment  to  develop  any  movement  intended 
to  intercept  his  main  column.  The  achievements  and  hazards 
of  Croxton's  brigade  will  be  related  hereafter. 

On  the  28th,  Forrest  was  moving  from  West  Point  via  Finche's 
ferry  ;  and  the  same  day  he  learned  that  Gen.  Dan.  Adams' 
scouts  from  Montevallo  reported  the  federals  moving  on  Tusca 
loosa  with  a  force  estimated  at  five  thousand.  On  that  day, 
also,  he  was  informed  that  Gen.  Adams  reported  that  three 
divisions  under  Wilson  camped  at  Jasper  the  night  of  the 
26th,  and  that  their  destination  was  Elyton  and  Montevallo. 
On  the  28th,  the  Kentucky  brigade  was  put  in  motion  to  strike 
the  federal  rear  from  Tuscaloosa.  On  the  29th,  orders  were 
again  sent  to  Gen.  W.  L.  Brandon  to  send,  twenty-five  hundred 
Mississippi  reserves  from  Scooba  to  West  Point. 

Skirmishes  near  Montevallo. — Gen.  Upton's  division  in  the 
advance  encountered  a  small  mounted  force  at  Elyton,  but 
pushed  it  rapidly  across  the  Cahawba  to  Montevallo.  The 
enemy  having  felled  trees  into  the  ford  and  otherwise  obstructed 
it,  the  railroad  bridge  near  Hillsborough  was  tloored  over  by 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  247 

Gen.  E.  F.  Winslow's  brigade.  Upton  crossed  his  division  and 
pushed  on  to  Montevallo,  where  he  arrived  late  in  the  evening 
of  the  30th.  Winslow's  brigade  had  a  slight  skirmish  just 
before  entering  Monterallo,  which  was  participated  in  by  three 
companies  of  the  Fourth  Iowa,  under  Maj.  W.  W.  Woods,  and 
one  man  of  the  Fourth  Iowa  was  slightly  wounded.  Long  and 
McCook  marched  by  the  same  route.  In  that  region  Upton's 
division  destroyed  the  Red  Mountain,  Central,  Bibb,  and  Co- 
lumbiana  iron-works,  Cahawba  rolling  mills,  five  collieries,  and 
much  valuable  property;  all  of  which  were  in  full  operation. 
Wilson  arrived  at  Montevallo,  on  the  afternoon  of  March  31, 
where  he  found  Upton's  division  ready  to  resume  the  march. 
Directly  after,  the  confederates  made  their  appearance  on  the 
Solma  road,  pushing  in  the  federal  pickets.  By  Gen.  Wilson's 
direction,  Upton  moved  his  division  out  at  once,  Gen.  A.  J. 
Alexander's  brigade  being  in  advance.  After  a  sharp  fight  and 
handsome  charge,  by  the  Fifth  Iowa  cavalry,  Col.  J.  M.  Ycum* 
commanding,  Alexander's  brigade  drove  the  confederate  cavalry, 
a  part  of  Crossland's  Kentucky  brigade,  and  Roddy's  division, 
rapidly  and  in  confusion  toward  Randolph.  On  their  seeking 
to  make  a  stand  at  Six-Mile  creek,  south  of  Montevallo,  Upton 
caused  Rodney's  battery  (I,  Fourth  United  States  artillery)  to 
take  position  and  open  fire,  and  pushed  Winslow's  brigade  to 
the  front.  The  Tenth  Missouri  cavalry,  Lieut.  Col.  F.  W.  Ben- 
teen  commanding,  dismounted  and  forced  the  confederates  from 
their  position,  the  Tenth  suffering  a  loss  of  two  men  wounded. 
While  that  regiment  was  mounting,  the  Third  Iowa  cavalry,  Col. 
J.  W.  Noble  commanding,  took  the  advance  and  charged  the 
confederates  with  one  company  at  a  time  on  the  road  when 
their  column  was  in  retreat.  A  portion  of  the  confederates 
being  separated  from  their  main  force,  Capt.  Johnson,  of  the 
Third,  with  two  companies,  was  sent  to  the  right  and  charging 
with  vigor  and  gallantry,  captured  a  number.  On  the  main 


248  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

road,  the  confederates  were  driven  to  "Randolph,  leaving  many 
animals  and  men  along  the  road.  Winslow's  brigade  took 
seventy-five  prisoners.  The  Third  Iowa  behaved  with  its 
habitual  gallantry.  It  was  led  by  Col.  Noble,  whose  adjutant 
lost  his  horse  in  the  first  charge.  Meantime,  the  enemy  being 
familiar  with  the  ground  attacked  the  rear  and  right  of  Wins- 
low's  brigade,  when  Lieut.-Col.  Peters,  commanding  the  Fourth 
Iowa,  dismounted  seven  companies  of  that  regiment,  charged 
the  enemy,  driving  him  about  two  miles,  killing  and  wounding 
several  and  capturing  two.  The  loss  of  the  Fourth  was  three 
severely,  and  two  slightly  wounded.  The  gallantry  of  men  and 
officers  had  been  conspicuous  throughout  the  day,  and  much 
increased  the  moral  supremacy  of  the  corps. 

Upton's  division  bivouacked  that  night  fourteen  miles  south 
of  Montevallo,  and  at  dawn  the  next  day,  April  1,  moved  forward 
to  Eandolph.  At  that  point,  in  pursuance  of  the  order  of  march 
for  the  day,  Gen.  Upton  turned  to  the  east,  for  the  purpose 
of  going  by  the  way  of  Old  Maplesville,  and  thence  by  the  Old 
Selina  road,  while  Gen.  Long  was  instructed  to  push  forward 
on  the  new  road. 

Capture  of  Despatches. — At  Randolph,  Upton's  scouts  cap 
tured  a  confederate  courier  just  from  Centreville,  from  whose 
person  were  taken  two  despatches,  one  from  Brig.-Gen.  W.  H. 
Jackson,  commanding  one  of  Forrest's  divisions,  and  one  from 
Major  Anderson,  Forrest's  chief  of  staff.  From  the  first  Wil 
son  learned  that  Forrest,  with  a  part  of  his  command,  was  in  his 
front — which  had  also  been  learned  from  prisoners — that  Jack 
son  with  his  division,  and  all  the  wagons  and  artillery  of  the 
confederate  cavalry,  marching  from  Tuscaloosa,  via  Trion 
toward  Centreville,  had  encamped  the  night  before  at  Hill's 
plantation,  three  miles  beyond  Scottsboro  ;  that  Croxton,  with 
the  brigade  detached  at  Elyton,  had  struck  Jackson's  rear 
guard  at  Trion  and  interposed  himself  between  it  and  the  tram  : 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  249 

that  Jackson  had  discovered  this,  and  intended  to  attack  Crox- 
ton  at  daylight,  April  1.  He  learned  from  the  other  despatch 
that  Chalmers  had  also  arrived  at  Marion,  Alabama,  and  had 
been  ordered  to  cross  to  the  east  side  of  the  Cahawba,  near 
that  place,  for  the  purpose  of  joining  Forrest  in  Wilson's 
front,  or  in  the  works  at  Selma.  He  also  learned  that  a  force 
of  dismounted  men  were  stationed  at  Centreville,  with  orders  to 
hold  the  bridge  over  the  Cahawba  as  long  as  possible,  and  in  no 
event  to  let  it  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  federals. 

Shortly  after  the  interception  of  these  despatches  Wilson 
received  a  despatch  from  Croxton,  written  from  Trion,  the  night 
before,  stating  he  had  struck  Jackson's  rear ;  and  instead  oiL 
pushing  on  toward  Tuscaloosa,  as  he  was  ordered,  he  would 
follow  and  endeavor  to  bring  him  to  an  engagement,  hoping, 
thereby  to  prevent  his  junction  with  Forrest. 

Having  this  information,  Wilson  directed  McCook  to  strength 
en  the  battalion  previously  ordered  to  Centreville,  by  a  regiment 
and  to  follow  at  once  with  La  Grange's  entire  brigade,  leaving 
all  pack-trains  and  wagons  with  the  main  column,  so  that  he 
could  march  with  the  utmost  celerity ;  and  after  seizing  the 
Centreville  bridge,  and  leaving  it  under  protection  of  a  sufficient 
guard,  to  cross  the  Cahawba,  and  continue  his  march  by  the 
Scottsville  road  toward  Trion.  His  orders  were  to  attack  and 
break  up  Jackson's  forces,  form  a  junction  with  Croxton,  if 
practicable,  and  rejoin  the  corps,  with  his  entire  division,  by 
the  Centreville-road  to  Selma.  Although  McCook  did  not  leave 
Randolph  till  near  eleven,  A.  M.,  and  the  distance  to  Scottsville 
was  nearly  forty  miles,  Wilson  hoped,  by  the  movement  to  do 
more  than  secure  the  Centreville  bridge,  and  prevent  Jackson 
from  joining  the  force  in  front  of  the  main  column. 


250  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 


BATTLE  OF  EBENEZER  CHUHCH. 

Having  anticipated  Forrest,  in  his  characteristic  plan  of  get 
ting  upon  the  rear  of  his  adversary,  Wilson  directed  Long  and 
Upton  to  allow  him  no  rest,  but  push  him  toward  Selma  with 
the  utmost  rapidity.  Those  officers  comprehended  the  situa 
tion,  and  pressed  forward,  with  zeal  and  activity,  on  the  roads 
that  have  been  indicated.  The  advance  of  both  divisions 
-encountered  small  parties  of  confederates,  but  drove  them 
back  to  their  main  force  at  Ebenezer  church,  six  miles  north 
of  Plantersville.  Forrest  had  chosen  a  position  on  the  north 
bank  of  Bogler's  creek,  and  disposed  of  his  force  for  battle,  his 
right  resting  on  Mulberry  creek,  and  his  left  on  a  high  wooded 
ridge,  with  four  pieces  of  artillery  to  sweep  the  Randolph  road, 
upon  which  Long's  division  was  advancing,  and  two  on  the 
Maplesville  road.  He  had  under  his  command,  in  line,  Arm 
strong's  brigade  of  Chalmers'  division  ;  Roddy's  division  ;  Cross- 
land's  Kentucky  brigade  ;  and  a  battalion  of  three  hundred 
infantry,  just  arrived  from  Selma  ;  in  all,  about  five  thousand 
men.  Part  of  his  front  was  covered  by  a  slashing  of  pine  trees 
and  rail  barricades. 

Gen.  Long,  on  discovering  the  confederates  in  strength  close 
upon  the  main  body,  reinforced  his  advance  guard  (a  battalion 
of  the  Seventy-second  Indiana  mounted  infantry)  by  the  balance 
-.of  the  regiment,  dismounted,  and  formed  it  on  the  left  of  the 
Toad.  As  it  moved  forward,  the  confederate  advance  fell  back. 
At  that  juncture,  he  ordered  forward  four  companies  of  the 
Seventeenth  Indiana  mounted  infantry,  Lieut. -Col.  Frank  White 
•commanding.  With  drawn  sabres,  that  gallant  battalion  drove 
the  enemy,  in  confusion,  into  the  main  line,  dashed  against  that, 
broke  through  it,  rode  over  the  artillery,  and,  finally,  turned  to 
the  left,  and  cut  its  way  out,  leaving  one  officer  and  sixteen  men 
in  the  hands  of  the  confederates,  either  killed  or  wounded.  In 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  251 

this  charge,  Capt.  Taylor,  of  the  Seventeenth  Indiana,  lost  his 
life,  after  having  led  his  men  into  the  very  midst  of  the  enemy, 
and  engaged  in  a  running  fight,  of  two  hundred  yards,  with 
Forrest  in  person. 

While  this  was  transpiring,  Upton's  division  was  coming  from 
a  northeasterly  direction  on  the  Maplesville  road.  Alexander's 
brigade  was  in  the  advance,  and  hearing  the  firing  and  cheers 
of  Long's  men  on  the  right,  when  within  three  miles  of  Ebenezer 
church,  pushed  forward  at  the  trot,  and  soon  came  :o  the  scene 
of  action.  Alexander  promptly  deployed  his  brigade  mostly  on 
the  right  of  the  road,  intending  to  connect  with  Long's  left,  and 
soon  afterward  advanced  his  line  dismounted.  In  less  than  an 
hour,  although  the  resistance  was  determined,  the  position  was 
carried  by  a  gallant  charge,  and  the  confederates  routed.  Gen. 
Alexander's  brigade  captured  two  guns  and  about  two  hundred 
prisoners,  while  one  gun  fell  into  the  hands  of  Gen.  Long's 
division. 

Winslow's  brigade  came  up  just  as  the  engagement  was  being 
decided ;  and  two  regiments,  the  Third  Iowa  leading,  were 
hastened  to  the  front.  Capt.  Arnim's  Company  I  of  the  Third 
was  thrown  out  on  the  left  of  the  road,  and  directed  to  charge 
a  line  formed  on  the  bank  of  the  creek  four  hundred  yards  from 
the  head  of  Winslow's  column.  That  company,  having  to 
throw  down  a  fence  under  severe  fire,  had  one  officer,  Lieut.  J. 
J.  Yeach,  and  several  men  wounded,  losing  also  about  fifteen 
horses.  The  column  moving  forward  the  last  of  Forrest's  forces 
retired,  and  the  Third  Iowa  cavalry  pursued  them  five  miles  to 
Plantersville.  Capt.  John  Brown's  Company  L  charged  over  a 
deep  stream,  captured  a  color  company,  and,  indeed,  more  men 
than  his  command  numbered. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

CAVALRY  OPERATIONS  CONTINUED.— BATTLE  OF  SELMA. 

THE  night  of  April  1,  Wilson's  corps  bivouacked  near  Plant- 
ersville,  nineteen  miles  from  Selma.  With  almc  st  constant 
fighting,  it  had  driven  its  adversaries  twenty-four  miles  since 
morning.  It  gave  them  no  pause  nor  rest.  At  daylight  of  the 
2d,  .Long's  division  took  the  advance,  closely  followed  by 
Upton's.  Wilson,  having  paid  heed  to  that  important  injunction 
of  Napoleon — to  be  informed  of  the  condition  of  the  enemy — 
had  obtained  a  well-drawn  sketch,  and  complete  description  of 
the  defences  of  Selma. 

That  city  is  situated  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Alabama  river, 
about  one  hundred  feet  above  high  water.  It  contained  an 
arsenal  and  foundries,  and  was  the  most  important  confederate 
depot  of  the  southwest. 

Its  fortifications  consisted  of  a  bastioned  line  on  a  radius  of 
nearly  three  miles,  extending  from  the  Alabama  river  below  to 
the  same  above  the  city.  That  part  of  the  line  west  of  the  city 
was  covered  with  a  miry,  deep,  and  almost  impassable  creek,  with 
sloping  banks ;  that  on  the  east  side,  by  a  swamp,  extending 
from  the  river  almost  to  the  Summerville  road,  and  entirely 
impracticable  for  mounted  men  at  all  times.  On  the  east  side 
also  is  a  stream  with  high  and  precipitous  banks.  The  profile 
of  the  'works  was  as  follows :  Height  of  parapet,  six  to  eight 
feet ;  thickness,  eight  feet ;  depth  of  ditch,  five  feet ;  width, 
from  ten  to  fifteen  feet ;  height  of  stockade  on  the  glacis,  five 
feet;  sunk  in  the  earth,  four  feet.  The  place  was  indeed 


/i,.,,,,,./../J&,mttdy 


Position,  in.  N<ll  , 
Range  Line  Road, 


frofilr  ofstodsaded  fiJ? 
m*Hm£uu?  of  continuous  l'<u;ij>tt 
Line  of  stochadeU  flirt,-  Kl . 


for  field  Artillery  Bastitms  Radons 

A-c.  wUfc  77  Embrasures. 

a  b  r  Flanking  Redans  *c. 

dd  d  Kndosad  Jlasiions  foi-lUamiai 

I."  l-i',-J,t  Huns  captured,  in  fhsttion 

Mothers  capturefLjust  outside  of 

Kruly*. 


MAP    OF    THE    (^ITY 
OF 

SELMA  AND  ITS  DEFENCES 
ALABAMA 

Captured  by  Assault  by  tin-  Cavalry  Corps  Al.D.AJ. 

April  2 d.  1865 
Bvt.Maj.  Geid.  J.If.WILSOX  Comdg. 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  253 

strongly  and  elaborately  fortified,  and  the  stockade  in  front  of 
the  ditch  was  no  inconsiderable  obstruction. 

Wilson  directed  Long  to  march  by  the  flanks  of  brigades, 
approach  the  city,  and  cross  to  the  Suimnerville  road,  without 
exposing  his  men,  and  to  develop  his  lina  as  soon  as  he  should 
arrive  in  front  of  the  works.  Upton  was  directed  to  move  on 
the  Range  Line  road,  sending  a  squadron  on  the  Burnsville 
road.  Lieut.  Rendelbrook,  with  a  battalion  of  the  Fourth 
United  States  cavalry,  was  instructed  to  move  down  the  rail 
road,  burning  stations,  bridges,  and  trestle-work,  as  far  as 
Burnsville.  By  rapid  marching,  without  opposition,  the  troops 
were  all  in  sight  of  the  town,  and  mostly  in  position,  by 
four,  P.  M. 

Lieut.-Gen.  Taylor  left  the  city  at  about  that  hour,  leaving 
Forrest  in  command,  who  had  under  him  a  garrison  numbering 
nearly  seven  thousand,  including  the  citizen  militia.  Preachers 
of  the  gospel  took  muskets  and  went  into  the  trenches. 

ASSAULT. 

As  Gen.  "Wilson  approached  the  city  he  perceived  that  the 
information  he  had  received  was  generally  correct.  He  then 
made  a  reconnoissance  of  the  works  from  left  to  right,  for  the 
purpose  of  satisfying  himself  as  to  the  true  point  of  attack,  and 
the  probable  chances  of  success.  He  directed  Gen.  Long  to 
assault  the  works  by  moving  diagonally  across  the  road  upon 
which  his  troops  were  posted,  while  Gen.  Upton,  at  his  own 
request,  with  a  picked  force  of  three  hundred  men,  was  directed 
to  penetrate  the  swamps  upon  his  left,  break  through  the  line 
covered  by  it,  and  turn  the  garrison's  right,  the  balance  of  his 
division  to  conform  to  the  movement.  The  signal  for  the  ad 
vance  was  to  be  the  discharge  of  a  single  gun  from  Rodney's 
battery,  to  be  given  as  soon  as  Upton's  turning  movement 
had  developed  itself. 


254  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

Before  that  plan  could  be  executed,  and  while  waiting  for 
the  signal  to  advance,  Gen.  Long  was  informed  that  a  strong 
force  of  confederate  cavalry  had  begun  skirmishing  with  his 
rear,  and  threatened  a  general  attack  upon  his  pack  train  and 
led  horses.  He  had  left  a  force  of  six  companies  well  posted  at 
the  creek,  in  anticipation  of  that  movement,  afterward  ascer 
tained  to  have  been  made  by  Chalmers,  in  obedience  to  the 
instructions  of  Forrest.  This  force  was  at  Marion  the  day 
before,  and  was  expected  on  the  road  from  that  place.  Fearing, 
lest  the  affair  might  compromise  the  assault  upon  the  main 
position,  Long  (having  strengthened  the  rear  by  another  regi 
ment),  determined  to  make  the  assault  at  once,  and  without 
waiting  for  the  signal,  gave  the  order  to  advance.  His  com 
mand  was  formed  in  line  of  battle  dismounted,  the  Seventeenth 
Indiana  mounted  infantry  on  the  right,  and  next,  from  right  to 
left,  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Illinois  and  Ninety- 
eighth  Illinois  mounted  infantry,  the  Fourth  Ohio  cavalry,  and 
Fourth  Michigan  cavalry,  comprising  in  all  fifteen  hundred 
officers  and  men.  They  had  to  charge  across  open  ground  six 
hundred  yards  to  the  works,  exposed  to  the  fire  of  artillery  and 
musketry,  and  that  part  of  the  line  they  were  to  assault  was 
manned  by  Armstrong's  brigade,  regarded  as  the  best  of  For 
rest's  corps,  and  numbering  fifteen  hundred  strong.  Long's 
division  sprang  forward  in  an  unfaltering  manner.  Its  flanks 
had  some  difficulty  in  crossing  a  ravine  and  marshy  soil ;  but  in 
less  than  fifteen  minutes  it  had  swept  over  the  works  and 
driven  the  confederates  in  confusion  toward  the  city.  But 
the  loss  was  considerable,  and  among  the  wounded  was  Gen. 
Long  himself,  who  was  temporarily  succeeded  in  command 
by  Col.  Minty.  Wilson  arrived  on  that  part  of  the  field  just 
after  the  works  were  carried.  He  at  once  notified  Upton  of  the 
success,  directed  Col.  Minty  to  form  Long's  division  for  a 
new  advance,  ordered  Col.  Vail,  commanding  the  Seventeenth 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  255 

Indiana,  to  place  his  own  regiment  and  the  Fourth  United 
States  cavalry,  Lieut.  O'Connel,  and  the  Board  of  Trade  bat 
tery,  Capt.  Robinson  commanding,  and  renewed  the  attack. 
The  garrison  had  occupied  a  new  line,  but  partially  finished,  OIL 
the  edge  of  the  city.  A  gallant  charge  by  the  Fourth  United 
States  cavalry  was  repulsed,  but  it  rapidly  re-formed  on  the 
left.  It  was  now  quite  dark.  Upton's  division  advancing  at 
the  same  time,  a  new  charge  was  made  by  the  Fourth  Ohio, 
Seventeenth  Indiana,  and  Fourth  cavalry,  dismounted.  The 
troops,  inspired  by  the  wildest  enthusiasm,  swept  everything 
before  them,  and  penetrated  the  city  in  all  directions.  Upton's 
division,  though  encountering  less  resistance,  charged  with  its 
habitual  spirit  and  devotion.  It  was  said  that  the  men,  finding 
it  too  difficult  to  break  down  or  pry  away  the  sharp-pointed 
stockade  in  front  of  the  earthworks,  those  behind,  coming  on 
swiftly,  jumped  on  the  shoulders  of  the  foremost  and  leaped 
the  obstructions,  thus  storming  the  works  by  a  game  of  "  leap 
frog."1  Nor  was  such  a  humorous  expedient  inconsistent  with 
the  coolness  and  fervid  valor  of  those  splendid  troops. 

During  the  first  part  of  the  action,  the  Chicago  Board  of 
Trade  battery  had  occupied  a  commanding  position,  and  steadily 
replied  to  the  garrison  guns. 

The  loss  in  Long's  division  was  forty  killed  and  two  hundred 
and  sixty  wounded.  Of  the  latter,  besides  Long,  were  Cols. 
Miller,  McCormick,  and  Briggs.  Wilson's  force,  engaged  and 
in  supporting  distance,  was  nine  thousand  men  and  eight  guns. 

The  garrison  fought  with  considerable  coolness  and  skill. 
Forrest  was  reported  to  have  been  engaged  personally  in 
two  or  three  romantic  combats ;  and  he,  with  Gens.  Armstrong, 
Roddy,  and  Adams,  and  a  number  of  men,  escaped  under  cover 
of  darkness,  by  the  Burnsville  or  river  road.  A  portion  of 

1  Ingersoll's  Iowa  and  the  Rebellion,  p.  465. 


256  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

Upton's  division  pursued  on  the  Burnsville  road  until  long 
after  midnight,  capturing  four  guns  and  many  prisoners. 

The  immediate  fruits  of  Wilson's  victory  were  thirty-one 
field  guns  and  one  thirty-pounder  Parrott ;  two  thousand  seven 
hundred  prisoners,  including  one  hundred  and  fifty  officers ;  a 
number  of  colors,  and  large  quantities  of  stores  of  every  kind. 

As  soon  as  the  troops  could  be  assembled  and  got  into 
camp,  Brevet  Brig.-Gen.  Winslow  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  city,  with  orders  to  destroy  everything  that  could  benefit 
the  confederate  cause.  In  the  excitement  of  the  hour,  some 
acts  of  plunder  were  committed. 

Gen.  Upton  was  directed  to  march  at  daylight  with  his 
division,  for  the  purpose  of  driving  Chalmers  to  the  west  side 
of  the  Catawba,  to  open  communication  with  McCook,  who  was 
expected  from  Centreville,  and  to  assist  him  in  bringing  in 
the  train. 

In  anticipation  of  the  fall  of  Selma  the  confederates  burned 
twenty-five  thousand  bales  of  cotton,  sent  the  steamers  that 
were  there,  down  the  Alabama,  to  go  up  the  Tombigbee,  and 
cut  loose  a  pontoon  bridge  which  floated  down  to  Oven  bluff. 

Gen.  Wilson  directed  Lieut.  Haywood,  Fourth  Michigan  cav 
alry,  engineer  officer  on  his  staff,  to  employ  all  the  resources 
of  the  shops  in  the  city  in  the  construction  of  pontoons,  with  the 
intention  of  laying  a  bridge  and  crossing  to  the  south  side  of 
the  Alabama  river,  as  soon  as  he  could  satisfy  himself  of  Gen. 
Canby's  success  in  the  operations  against  Mobile.  On  April 
5,  Upton  and  McCook  arrived  with  the  train,  but  nothing 
definite  had  been  heard  of  Croxton.  McCook  had  been  entirely 
successful  in  his  operations  against  Centreville,  but  on  reaching 
Scottsboro,  he  found  Jackson  well  posted  with  a  force,  he 
thought  too  strong  to  attack.  After  a  sharp  skirmish1  he 

1  Gapl.  Surrjet  (A.  A,  6r.),  to'M-y.  Hope,  Dsmopvlis  :  "  April  3.— If  news  of 
Jackson's  victory  be  true,  he  ought  to  cover  Demopolis." 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  257 

returned  to  Centreville,  burned  the  Scottsboro  cotton  factory 
and  Cahawba  bridge,  and  returned  toward  Selma.  Meantime, 
Col.  Noble,  Third  Iowa,  with  a  detachment  of  Winslow's 
brigade,  made  a  march  to  the  rear  through  Summerfield  to 
Johnson's  ferry,  returning  on  the  6th. 

On  the  3d,  Gen.  "Wirt  Adams,  at  West  Point,  was  ordered  to 
prepare  immediately  to  move  east  via  Pickensville  with  every 
available  man  of  his  own  and  Scott's  Louisiana  brigade,  leaving 
the  battery  behind.  On  the  4th,  Lieut.-Gen.  Taylor  was  at 
Mobile.  On  the  same  day,  Capt.  Surget  telegraphed  from 
Meridian  to  Gen.  Hodge  at  Jackson,  that  there  were  some 
eighty  federal  prisoners  there,  recent  captures.  On  the  5th, 
Taylor  returned  from  Mobile,  and  at  one,  P.  M.,  telegraphed 
Forrest  as  follows  : 

"Returned  from  Mobile  this  morning.  Wirfc  Adams  left 
Columbus  this  morning  with  fifteen  hundred  men  to  join 

you  at  Marion  via  Pickensville 'Tis  useless  to  fight 

enemy  until  we  are  strong  enough  to  whip  him.  Hang  on  his 
flanks  and  rear,  cut  off  small  parties  and  delay  his  movements 
till  you  can  get  your  whole  force  in  hand." 

The  same  day  Capt.  Surget  informed  Forrest — "  At  Mobile 
everything  goes  on  well.  Yankees  have  gained  nothing  thus 
far." 

On  the  6th  of  April,  Gen.  Wilson  having  ordered  Maj.  Hub- 
bard  to  lay  a  bridge  over  the  Alabama  with  the  utmost  despatch, 
went  to  Cahawba  to  see  Gen.  Forrest,  who  had  agreed  to  meet 
Wilson  there,  under  a  flag  of  truce,  to  arrange  an  exchange  of 
prisoners.  Wilson  soon  discovered  that  he  need  not  expect 
liberality  in  the  matter,  and  that  Forrest  hoped  to  recapture 
the  prisoners  in  his  hands.  During  the  conversation,  Wilson 
learned  from  Forrest  that  Croxton  had  had  an  engagement  with 
Wirt  Adams,  near  Bridgeville,  forty  miles  southwest  of  Tusca- 
loosa,  two  days  before.  This,  it  appears,  assured  Wilson  ot 

17 


253  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

Croxton's  success  and  safety,  and  he  determined  to  lose  no 
time  in  crossing  to  the  south  side  of  the  Alabama.  Returning 
to  Sslnia  he  urged  every  one  to  the  utmost  exertions.  The 
river  was  quite  full  and  rising,  its  current  swift  and  strong. 
The  weather  was  also  unsettled  and  rainy,  but  by  great  energy 
and  labor  night  and  day  the  bridge,  eight  hundred  and  seventy 
feet  long,  was  constructed,  and  the  command  all  crossed  by  day 
light  of  the  10th.  Three  times  the  bridge  was  swept  away. 
Gen.  Alexander  narrowly  escaped  drowning;  boats  were  cap 
sized,  and  men  precipitated  into  the  stream,  but  the  crossing 
was  finally  accomplished  with  success. 

Behind  him,  in  the  destroyed  arsenal,  foundries,  arms,  stores, 
and  military  munitions  of  every  kind,  Wilson  had  left  immense 
ruin.  He  had  struck  the  Confederacy  a  disastrous  blow. 

At  Selma,  he  left  the  severely  wounded  of  his  command,  and 
many  paroled  prisoners.  But  the  confederates  considered  the 
parole  illegal,  and  ordered  the  men  to  duty. 

Wilson  now  determined  to  march,  by  the  way  of  Montgomery, 
into  Georgia,  and,  after  breaking  up  railroads,  and  destroy 
ing  stores  and  army  supplies  in  that  state,  to  march  thence, 
as  rapidly  as  possible,  to  the  theatre  of  operations  in  North 
Carolina  and  Virginia. 

He  was  now  able  to  secure  greater  mobility  to  his  command. 
Enough  horses  had  been  captured  to  mount  all  the  dismounted 
men.  The  surplus  wagons,  and  all  of  the  bridge  train,  except 
enough  for  twelve  bags,  were  destroyed.  The  column  was 
claared  of  the  multitude  of  freedmen  who  hovered  around  it, 
except  such  ablebodied  ones  as  could  enlist,  who  were  organ- 
iz&d  into  regiments,  one  to  each  division.  Efficient  officers  were 
assigned  these  commands  ;  and  how  well  they  succeeded,  is 
shown  by  the  fact,  that  "  in  addition  to  subsisting  themselves 
upon  the  country,  they  marched  (upon  one  occasion)  forty-five 
miles,  and  frequently  as  much  as  thirty-five,  in  one  day." 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  259 

In  the  march  from  Selma,  La  Grange's  brigade,  of  McCook's 
division,  was  given  the  advance.  The  recent  rains  had  rendered 
the  roads  quite  muddy,  and  a  small  body  of  confederate  cavalry, 
in  falling  back  before  La  Grange,  destroyed  several  bridges,  so 
that  the  progress  of  the  column  was  slow. 

On  the  morning  of  the  12th,  the  advance-guard  reached 
Montgomery,  the  capital  of  Alabama,  and  received  the  sur 
render  of  the  city  from  the  mayor  and  council.  The  confed 
erate  general,  Adams,  with  a  small  force,  after  falling  back  from 
bofora  Wilson's  column,  to  the  city,  burned  ninety  thousand 
bales  of  cotton,  stored  there,  and  continued  his  retreat  to  Mount 
Meigs,  on  the  Columbus  road. 

Gen.  McCook  assigned  Col.  Cooper,  Fourth  Kentucky  cav 
alry,  to  the  command  of  the  city,  and  immediately  began  the 
destruction  of  the  public  stores.  Maj.  Weston  of  the  Fourth 
Kentucky,  with  a  small  detachment  of  his  regiment,  made  a 
rapid  march  toward  Wetumpka,  swam  the  Coosa  and  Talla- 
poosa  rivers,  and  captured  five  steamboats  and  their  cargoes, 
which  were  taken  to  Montgomery  and  destroyed. 

The  grand  column  entered  Montgomery  in  imposing  style. 
The  capitol  stands  on  a  commanding  site,  and  is  visible  far  out 
in  the  country.  As  they  approached  the  city  the  troopers  were 
delighted  to  see  the  federal  flag  restored  to  its  position,  and 
proudly  floating  from  the  dome  of  the  first  capitol  of  the  then 
tottering  confederacy. 

Pausing  two  days  at  Montgomery,  Wilson  resumed  his  march 
on  the  morning  of  the  14th,  moving  into  Georgia  and  accom 
plishing  brilliant  results ;  the  most  important  of  which  was  the 
capture,  on  the  16th  of  April,  of  the  fortified  posts  of  Columbus 
and  West  Point.  On  the  20th,  he  entered  Macon,  where  he  was 
met  by  news  of  the  armistice. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

OPERATIONS  OF  CROXTON'S  BRIGADE. 

GEN.  John  T.  Croxton's  brigade  consisted  of  the  Second! 
Michigan  cavalry,  Col.  Johnston,  the  Fourth  Kentucky  mounted 
infantry,  Col.  Kelly,  the  Sixth  Kentucky  cavalry,  Maj.  Fidler, 
and  the  Eighth  Iowa  cavalry,  Col.  Dorr,  fifteen  hundred  effective. 

Leaving  the  Fourth  Kentucky  cavalry  temporarily  with  the 
train,  Croxton,  on  the  morning  of  March  31,  marched  from 
Elyton  for  Tuscaloosa,  having  eleven  hundred  effective  men. 
He  took  no  artillery  nor  train,  save  one  headquarters  bag 
gage-wagon,  three  ambulances,  and  the  allowance  of  pack 
mules.  The  men  had  each  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
rounds  of  ammunition,  and,  like  the  main  column,  were  armed 
with  Spencer  carbines. 

At  five,  P.  M.,  when  approaching  Trion,  some  twenty  miles 
from  Tuscaloosa,  and  while  ascending  a  rise  of  ground,  in  a 
wooded  and  broken  country,  the  advance  detected  indications 
of  the  enemy,  which  proved  to  be  the  rear  of  Gen.  W.  H.  Jack 
son's  division,  estimated  at  twenty-six  hundred,  and  having 
artillery.  Croxton's  brigade  deployed  in  line  near  the  top  of 
the  hill,  with  videttes  on  the  crest,  and  having  remained  in 
that  position  till  dark,  went  into  camp  off  the  road.  Meantime, 
thorough  scouting  on  the  flanks,  showed  hostile  forces  on 
Croxton's  left  and  left  rear. 

Sldrmisli  at  Trion. — At  daylight  the  next  morning,  April  1, 
Croxton,  in  order  to  elude  Jackson,  though  still  having  Tusca 
loosa  in  view,  turned,  by  an  unfrequented  road,  in  a  northeast 
erly  direction,  to  the  Dirt  creek  road,  and  marched  rapidly  for 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  261 

ten  or  fifteen  miles.  Jackson,  however,  made  a  sharp  attack 
before  the  brigade  was  all  out  of  camp,  the  Sixth  Kentucky 
cavalry  losing  some  thirty  men,  including  a  lieutenant,  captured. 
A.  scouting  party,  of  the  Eighth  Iowa,  was  cut  off,  all  of  whom, 
except  one,  killed,  made  their  way  to  Gen.  Wilson. 

Gen.  Jackson  addressed  a  despatch  to  the  commanding  officer 
at  Tuscaloosa,  informing  him  that  he  had  attacked  and  dis 
persed  Croxton's  force  ;  adding  :  "  It  is  scattered  in  the  moun 
tains,  and  cannot  again  be  collected.  Assure  the  fair  ladies  of 
Tuscaloosa,  that  the  tread  of  the  Yandal  hordes  shall  not  pollute 
the  streets  of  their  beautiful  city." 

Croxton  marched  that  day  about  forty  miles,  striking  the 
Black  Warrior  river  at  Johnson's  ferry.  The  Fourth  Kentucky 
joined  him  at  noon.  The  same  night  he  crossed  the  Black 
Warrior.  The  stream  was  high  and  rapid ;  and  the  men 
resorted  to  various  plans  to  get  across.  The  forty  miles' 
march — and  some  had  been  on  duty  the  previous  night — had 
made  them  tired  and  stiff,  but  they  addressed  themselves  to  the 
duty  of  crossing  the  swollen  river  with  cheerful  alacrity.  A 
small  flat-boat  was  used,  but  it  would  have  required  much  time 
for  the  whole  brigade  to  cross  in  that.  Some  attempting,  while 
mounted,  to  swim  their  horses,  were  carried  under  by  the 
current.  Others,  to  be  odd,  stripped  to  their  shirts,  and  were 
piloted  across,  holding  to  their  horses'  tails ;  a  scene  which 
occasioned  no  little  merriment.  A  few  horses  were  lost  in 
crossing. 

The  brigade  marched  thirty-two  miles  the  next  day,  and  at 
ten,  P.  M.,  arrived  before  Tuscaloosa,  but  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river.  The  bridge  was  refloored,  and  Col.  Johnston, 
of  the  Second  Michigan  cavalry,  with  one 'hundred  and  fifty 
officers  and  men  of  his  regiment,  crossed  the  bridge,  surprised 
the  guards,  and  captured  the  pieces  of  artillery.  The  Eighth 
Iowa  entered  about  the  same  time,  and  Col.  Dorr  received 


262  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

formal  surrender  of  the  town  at  one,  A.  M.  Upward  of  fifty 
prisoners  were  captured  and  paroled.  After  daylight,  OroxtoD 
caused  the  military  college,  the  public  works  and  stores,  to 
be  destroyed.  He  remained  there  till  the  5th,  trying  to  com 
municate  with  Wilson  or  McCook.  The  confederate  scouts  were 
hanging  around  Tuscaloosa,  and,  knowing  that  Jackson  and 
Chalmers  were  between  him  and  Selma,  he  thought  it  too 
hazardous  to  undertake  to  reach  that  place  by  way  of  Centre- 
ville.  He  therefore  decided  to  move  toward  Eutaw,  in  the 
hope  of  crossing  the  "Warrior  lower  down,  and  cutting  the 
railroad  between  Selma  and  Demopolis.  On  the  5th,  he  re- 
crossed  the  Black  Warrior,  burned  the  bridge,  marched  out  on 
the  Columbus  (Mississippi)  road,  and,  on  the  6th,  turned  toward 
Eutaw.  The  same  morning,  at  seven  o'clock,  Gen.  Wirt  Adams, 
with  fifteen  hundred  men,  left  Pickensville,  intending  to  join 
Forrest  at  Marion,  by  the  way  of  Einche's  ferry.  Croxton,  at 
the  time,  thought  his  force  was  larger. 

Combat  of  Pleasant  Eidge. — About  two,  P.  M.,  Adams'  men 
began  to  annoy  the  rear  of  Croxton's  brigade,  consisting  of 
the  Sixth  Kentucky  cavalry,  near  Pleasant  Hiclge.  Meantime, 
Croxton  had  re-crossed  the  Sipsa  river,  and  turned  on  the 
military  road  toward  Tuscaloosa.  In  front  of  the  Sixth  Ken 
tucky  were  the  two  ambulances  and  the  wagon,  and  next  in 
front  of  them  was  the  Second  Michigan.  At  about  five,  p.  M., 
Adams  charged  the  rear  with  much  vigor,  the  shock  falling 
entirely  on  the  Sixth  Kentucky  cavalry.  The  commanding 
officer,  Maj.  Fidler,  sent  forward  to  Col.  Johnston  that  he  was 
hard  pushed,  and  needed  help,  but  before  the  message  could 
be  delivered,  he  himself  and  nearly  a  third  of  his  regiment  were 
captured  or  disabled.  One  of  the  ambulances  was  captured 
at  the  same  time,  in  which  was  Croxton's  valise. 

The  Second  Michigan  cavalry  halted  and  formed,  facing  to 
the  rear,  partly  behind  a  little  ridge  with  bushes  on  both  sides 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  263 

of  the  road,  a  portion  of  the  line  being  dismounted.  In  theii 
rear  was  a  house,  and  farther  back  a  hill  and  Avoods.  In  their 
front  was  a  field  extending  one  hundred  yards,  and  beyond  that 
a  body  of  timber.  Heavy  rain  was  falling,  accompanied  with 
thunder  and  lightning ;  yet  it  was  a  cold  rain,  and  everything 
around  was  dreary.  The  ground  was  muddy,  night  was  coming 
on,  and  it  was  believed  a  superior  force  would  soon  be  hurled 
against  them.  Soon  the  Sixth  Kentucky  cavalry  came  hurrying 
up  in  some  disorder,  and  the  Second  Michigan  made  an  opening 
for  them  to  pass  through.  All  the  column  except  the  Second 
Michigan  marched  on.  Adams'  forces,  encouraged  with  their 
success,  charged,  mounted,  against  the  Second  Michigan,  fully 
expecting  to  rout  them.  But  the  latter,  reserving  their  firt 
till  they  were  within  short  range,  repulsed  them.  Then  the 
confederates  retired  out  of  sight,  dismounted,  and  charged 
again.  But  again  the  Second  Michigan  men  held  their  position 
like  statues,  and  drove  them  back  with  heavier  loss.  Adams' 
men  charged  repeatedly  in  a  heroic  manner,  and  as  often  were 
repulsed.  Their  rallying  cries,  and  the  exhortations  by  their 
officers,  could  be  plainly  heard.  One  was  heard  to  say,  "  The 

d d  Yankee  cowards  won't  fight — they'll  run!"     This  only 

increased  the  sullen  feelings  oi  the  Second  Michigan  men. 
Their  line  never  wavered.  Their  own  safety,  probably  the 
safety  of  the  brigade,  was  secured  by  their  firm  courage  "and 
their  unerring  aim.  Finally,  at  dark,  Adams  ceased  his  attack. 
His  loss  must  have  been  severe.1  The  Second  Michigan  cavalry 


i  "  We  have  reliable  information  that  Gen.  Wirt  Adams,  with  comparatively 
small  force,  met  the  enemy  under  Croxton,  about  two  thousand  five  hundred 
strong,  at  Pleasant  Ridge,  Alabama,  and  whipped  them  badly,  killing  thirteen 
men,  and  capturing  and  wounding  a  large  number,  as  well  as  taking  all  their 
artillery,  wagons,  ambulances,  pontoons,  and  all  of  Gen.  Croxton's  papers.  Gen. 
Adams  lost  about  three  hundred  men.  Capt.  W.  B.  Luckett,  of  Wood's  regi 
ment,  was  killed  in  the  engagement.  The  enemy  outnumbered  Adams  at  least 
two  to  one." — Jackson  (Miss.)  News. 


264  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

suffered  but  little,  having  only  three  men  wounded.  Col.  John 
ston  had  his  horse  killed  under  him.  The  regiment  then 
inarched  on,  and  at  twelve  o'clock  overtook  the  rest  of  the 
brigade  in  camp. 

On  the  7th,  Croxton  wont  into  camp  near  Northport,  a  few 
miles  from  Tuscaloosa.  His  foraging  parties  and  scouts  on  the 
road  to  Columbus  misled  Wirt  Adams'  men,  who,  on  that 
evening,  reported  him  moving  toward  Columbus.  Adams  then 
turned  his  column  in  that  direction,  and  arrived  there  at  one, 
p.  M.,  on  the  8th,  having  marched  forty-five  miles  in  eleven 
hours.1  This  put  him  about  seventy  miles  northwest  from 
Croxton.  Chalmers  was  moving  toward  Columbus  the  same 
time,  and  reached  there  the  9th. 

On  the  llth,  Croxton  was  still  in  camp  near  Northport  on  the 
Boiler  road,  and  picketing  three  miles  out  toward  Columbus.  - 
The  same  day  he  sent  four  hundred  freedmen  toward  Decatur. 
On  the  morning  of  the  12th,  ho  marched  northward ;  and  pass 
ing  on  through  Jasper,  recrossed  the  west  fork  of  the  Black 
Warrior  river  at  Hadley's  mill,  marched  nearly  due  east  by  the 
way  of  Mount  Penson  and  Trussville,  crossed  the  Coosa  at 
True's  and  Collins'  ferries,  and  continued  on  to  Tallaclega,  a 
region  opulent  in  mineral  resources.  The  numerous  streams 
they  crossed  were  much  raised  by  the  spring  freshet.  The  men 
with  their  horses  had  to  swim  them,  incurring,  in  some  instances, 
no  little  peril.  A  few  men  were  drowned.  The  arms,  saddles, 

1  Gen.   Wirt  Adams  to  Capt.  E.  Surget,  A.  A.  G.:  "  Columbus,  April  8.— 
The  Yankee  Jblumn  which  was  attacked  and  driven  toward  Tuscaloosa  on  the 
6th,  was  reported  by  my  scouts  last  night  as  making  forced  marches  on  Colum 
bus.     I  marched  my  command  forty-five  miles  in  eleven  hours,  reaching  there 
at  one,  p.  M.,  to-day.     No  reliable  intelligence  of  his  approach  thus  far." 

2  Lieut. -Col.  Win.  Martin  to  Capt.  Surget:  "  Tuscaloosa,  5  p.  M.,  April  11. — 
A  prisoner  states  that  they  (Croxton's  force)  would  cross  at  or  about  this 
place,  and  move  in  direction  of  Selma.     One  thousand  men  could  take  them 
all.    I  have  despatched  Gen.  Adams." 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  265 

and  accoutrements,  were  generally  ferried  over  in  canoes,  flats, 
or  even  sugar-troughs. 

On  the  22d  of  April,  the  Eighth  Iowa,  being  in  advance, 
charged  into  Talladega,  with  drawn  sabres,  against  Gen.  B.  H. 
Hill's  brigade,  and  put  that  force  to  route,  losing  two  men, 
captured,  and  having  one  wounded  by  a  sabre-cut.  The  two 
captured  men  were  taken  by  a  squad  of  thirteen  confederates  ; 
but  Lieut.  Bennett,  of  the  Eighth,  with  only  two  men,  charged 
and  scattered  them,  and  rescued  the  two  prisoners. 

At  Talladega,  Croxton  replenished  the  haversacks,  and,  on  the 
23d,  pushed  on,  northeasterly,  destroying  the  railroad,  and 
skirmishing  with  Hill,  who  had  artillery,  and  was  falling  back 
on  Jacksonville.  The  Second  Michigan  cavalry  was  in  the 
advance,  but  could  not  bring  Hill's  forces  to  an  engagement, 
except  with  the  advance  guard.  That  regiment  had  one  man 
killed,  of  Company  B,  near  Oxford,  and  a  detail  having  gone 
back  to  bury  him,  found  too  many  confederates  gathering  to 
render  their  stay  safe.  The  Eighth  Iowa,  in  the  rear  had  two 
men  killed. 

In  the  region  of  the  Blue  mountains,  Croxton's  command 
destroyed  valuable  iron  and  nitre  works,  besides  railroad 
bridges,  depots,  and  rolling  stock. 

On  the  24th,  the  Eighth  Iowa  cavalry  was  detached  and  sent 
to  Jacksonville,  and,  on  the  way,  had  lively  skirmishes.  Before 
reaching  that  place,  a  freedman  informed  the  commander  of  the 
Eighth,  that  Hill's  forces  were  in  line  in  Jacksonville,  waiting 
for  him.  Then  the  Eighth  at  once  broke  into  a  gallop,  and 
dashed  on  with  enthusiasm.  A  lieutenant  exclaimed,  "  I  do 
hope  they  have  a  battery."  And  a  captain  said,  "  I  wish  every 
man  of  Hill's  command  had  a  cannon,  for  we  would  have  t!n  m 
all  before  night."  But  the  remnant  of  Hill's  forces — about  one 
hundred — made  a  rapid  retreat  from  the  town.  The  Eighth  Iowa 
rejoined  the  brigade  the  same  night,  having  marched  forty  miles. 


266  CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE. 

On  the  25tli,  Croxton  moved  out  on  the  road  leading  to  New- 
nan,  Georgia.  The  next  day,  while  crossing  the  Chattahoochee 
river,  a  white  flag  appeared  on  the  opposite  bank. 

Then  those  soldiers  heard,  but  with  unlike  emotions,  of  the 
fall  of  Richmond,  the  surrender  of  Lee,  and  the  assassination  of 
Lincoln. 

OBSERVATIONS  ON  WILSON'S  RAID. 

1.  If  Wilson  had  moved  on  Selma  with  five  or  six  thousand 
men,  as  first  proposed,  he  would   have  found  himself  in  the 
presence   of  Forrest  with  an  inferior  force.     He  undoubtedly 
would  have  diverted  that  able  commander  for  a  while,  from  any 
movement  toward  Mobile,  but  in  doing  so  must  have  suffered 
considerably;    and,   in   all  probability,   would    have  furnished 
another  of  those  examples  which  had  already  become  too  fre 
quent,  of  the  poor  success  which  attends  aggressive  operations 
with  an  inferior  force.     It  was  Wilson's  own   sagacity,  as  we 
have  seen,  that  led  to  his  taking  a  column  sufficiently  powerful 
for  the  task  before  it.     Yet  Colonel  Dorr  and  other  officers  in 
his  command,  who  had  spent  some  time  as  prisoners-of-war  in 
the  South,  had  even  two  years  before  urged  the  advantage  of 
moving  large  columns  into  the  very  heart  of  the  confederacy; 
forces  which  would  be  able  to  cause  just  such  widespread  and 
irreparable  injury  as  was  inflicted  by  Wilson's  victorious  corps. 
Had  such  columns  been  moved  into  the  South  a  year  or  two 
earlier,  they  would  have  found  but  slight  fortifications  surround 
ing  the  important  towns. 

2.  The   capture   of   Selma  must  be  regarded   as  the  most 
remarkable  achievement  in  the  history  of  modern  cavalry.     The 
valor  of  the  troops  engaged  in  that  splendid  assault,  illustrates 
the  maxim  of  Alexander,  that  "  No  place  is  impregnable  to  the 
brave  nor  secure  to  the  timorous." 

3.  Croxton,  when  lie  rejoined  Wilson,  had  marched  six  hun- 


CAMPAIGN     OF     MOBILE.  267 

dred  and  fifty  miles  in  thirty  days.  His  command  encountered 
many  hardships,  and  nothing  but  its  pluck  and  good  soldiership 
brought  it  out  so  successfully.  It  would  se^m  that  Croxton's 
better  course  would  have  been  to  have  marched  northeasterly 
from  Tuscaloosa  the  morning  after  entering  that  place,  instead  of 
again  recrossing  the  Black  Warrior.  The  critical  moment  was, 
when  he  was  attacked  by  Wirt  Adams,  near  Pleasant  Ridge. 
The  firmness  of  Col.  Johnston  and  the  Second  Michigan  there 
was  highly  exemplary.  Adams  made  a  forced  march  to  Colum 
bus,  and  got  seventy  miles  from  him.  But  for  the  stern  treat 
ment  he  had  received  from  the  Second  Michigan,  he  doubtless 
would  have  followed  the  column  when  close  upon  its  heels. 

Croxton's  command  felt  an  apprehension  lest  they  would  get 
out  of  ammunition,  but  their  supply  lasted  to  the  end.  And 
most  of  the  time  the  men  were  in  good  spirits. 


INDEX. 


ADAMS,  Gen.  D.  W.,  Taylor's  Despatch  to,  242 

(note)  ;  At  Selma,  255. 
ADAMS,  Gen.  Wirt,  at  West  Pomt,  257  ;   attacks 

Croxton  at  Pleasant  Ridge,  262  ;  marches  to 

Columbus,  264  (note). 

Adventure  ou  Skirmish-Line,  131,134,235-238. 
Alabama  (see  Reserves,  Number  of  Regiments. 

&c.) 

ALBAUGH,  Corporal,  killed  in  Assault,  216. 
ALEXANDER,  Gen.  A.  J.,  Brigade  of,  247, 251. 
Ambulances,  Allowance  in  Field.  28. 
Ammunition,  Amount  to  be  kept  on  Hand,  29  ; 

Quality  of,  at  Spanish  Fort,  166  ;  at  Blakely, 

ANDERSON,  Col.  (Confer!. ),  at  Fort  Gainos,  16. 

ANDERSON,  Maj.,  Chief  of  Staff  to  Forrest,  248. 

ANDREWS,  Col.  J.  A.,  commands  Texas  Brigade,  44. 

ARCHER,  Maj.,  commands  Escort  of  Supply  Train. 
243. 

ARMISTEAD,  Col.,  Despatches  to,  98  (note)  ;  De 
spatch  from,  100  (note). 

ARMSTRONG,  Capt.  S.  E.,  Battery  at  Spanish  Fort, 
139,  144,  150. 

ARMSTRONG,  Gen.,  Brigade  of,  at  Ebenezer  Church, 
250  ;  at  Selma,  255. 

Army,  Basieging,  Concentration  and  Equipment 
of,  21. 

ABNIM,  Capt.,  Company  at  Battle  of  Ebenezer 
Church,  251. 

ARNOLD,  Gen.  R.,  arrives  at  Fort  Morgan  with 
Siege  Train  18. 

Artillery  (see  Names  of  Batteries),  Position  of 
Confederate  at  Spanish  Fort,  70  ;  Singular  Es 
timate  of  in  Steele's  Column,  106  (and  note)  ; 
Additional  sent  to  Blakely,  189. 

ASHBY,  Sergeant,  mentioned,  83. 

Assault,  at  Spanish  Fort.  151  ;  when  intended, 
165  ;  on  Blakely,  200-222  ;  on  Selma,  253. 

Attack  on  Wagon  Train,  35. 

ATWATKR,  Lieut.,  mentioned,  216. 


BADGER,  Lieut. -Col.  A.  S.,  109,  240. 

BAILEY,  Gen.,  mentioned,  229  ;  Trip  to  Spanish 

.Fort,  233-235. 

BAILEY,  Maj.  H.  S.,  mentioned,  43,  172. 
BALDWIN,  Lieut.-Col.,  169  ;  ia  Assault,  203,  208. 
BALL,  Col.  C.  P.,  107. 
BALL,  Lieut., -i  53. 

BARNES,  Capt.  S.,  71,  84,  85,  90  ;  Wounded,  142. 
Barrancas,  Description  of,  23  :    the  Camp  there, 

23,24. 
BKARDSLEY,  Lieut.  E.  C.,  at  Spanish  Fort.  133,  138, 

229. 


BEAUREGARD,  Gen.,  Opinion  of  Defences,  168. 

BELL,  Lieut.-Col.,  53. 

BENSON,  Lieut.,  78. 

BEXTEEN,  Lieut.-Col.,  247. 

BENTON,  Gen.,  Division  marches  to  Fish  River 
33-35  ;  at  Spanish  Fort,  56.73,  93, 160. 

BERTRAM,  Col.,  his  Brigade  on  the  March,  34. 

BLANDING,  Col.,  mentioned,  37,  77, 158. 

BLANKENSHIP,  Capt.,  81, 92, 131, 140, 150  ;  Explosion 
of  Shell  in  his  Camp,  134,  138. 

BOARDMAN,  Maj. ,  43. 

Bomb-proofs  at  Spanish  Fort,  135. 

BOND,  Capt. ,  104. 

BONNER,  Sergeant,  228. 

BOSTWICK,  Capt.,  219. 

Blockade-Running  stopped  by  Fall  of  Forts  Mor 
gan  and  Gaines,  19. 

BOUGH,  Capt.,  84,  134, 150. 

BOWYER,  Col.  E.,  54. 

BOYDSTON,  Maj. ,  160. 

BOYLE,  Capt. ,  95. 

BRADLEY,  Lieut.-Col.,  Geo.,  55. 

BRANNEGAN  (Confed .  Gunner) ,  228. 

BKIGGS,  Col.,  wounded  at  Selma,  255. 

BRIGG3,  Lieut.,  78. 

BRITTON,  Lieut.-Col.  W.  B.,  54. 

BROMII.LET,  Eldrich,  in  Assault,  205. 

BROWN,  Capt,,  194. 

BROWN,  Capt.  J. ,  Charge  by  his  Company,  251. 

BROWN,  Capt.  W.  E.,  has  charge  of  a  Supply  Train, 
244. 

BROWN,  Lieut.-Col.  (Confed.),  Despatch  to,  38 
(nota) . 

BROWN,  Lieut.-Col.  (Ninety -sixth  Ohio),  56. 

BRUCE,  Lieut.-Col.,  John.,  57,  156. 

BRYAN,  Lieut.  John,  218. 

BUCK,  Capt.  Norman,  64, 134. 

BULLOCK,  Capt.  W.  M.,  at  Spanish  Fort.  53. 

BURNETT,  Col.  W.  E.,  killed  at  -Spanish  Fort,  84. 

BUSEY,  Col.  S.  F.,  24, 169  ;  in  Assault,  204,  205. 

BUSSY,  Capt  ,  89. 

BUXTON,  Corporal,  218. 

BEECHER,  Corporal,  180. 

BELL,  Lieut.  Col.,  152. 

Besiegers,  Toil  of,  135. 

BLACK,  Col.  Charles,  169, 182  ;  in  Assault,  209. 

Blakely  (Alabama),  Federal  Cavalry  appear  be 
fore,  119;  Description  of,  121,  122  ;  Garrison 
of,  122,  123  ;  Investment  of,  12:j-127  ;  Prog 
ress  of  Siege,  168  ;  Casualties  in  its  Garrison, 
176;  Sortie  by  Garrison,  178;  Garrison  puts 
New  Guns  ia  Position,  183  ;  Eighth  and  Last 
day  ot  Siege,  189  ;  Suspicion  of  Garrison 
evacuating,  191 ;  carried  by  Assault,  193- 
222  ;  Observations  on  Siege  and  Assault  of, 
223-226. 

Bombardment  (see  Fort  Morgan)  of  Spanish  Fort, 
139  ;  Final,  150,  15L 

BONHAM,  Maj.,lGO. 


270 


INDEX. 


Campaign  of  Mobile,  Plan  of,  31. 

Camp  at  Barrancas,  24. 

CAMPBELL,  Capt.  R. .  144. 

CAMPBELL,  Col.,  73.' 

CANBY,  Maj. -Gen.  E.  R.  S.,  assumes  Command 
Military  Division  West  Mississippi,  13  ;  sends 
Troops  East,  14  ;  His  Movable  Forces,  21 ; 
Thorough  Orders  for  Equipment  and  Mobility 
of  Army,  26  ;  Intontious  as  to  Assault,  59  ; 
sends  Supplies  to  ^teele,  120  ;  Purpose  to  As 
sault,  1-J9  ;  Orders  respecting,  156  ;  communi 
cates  Fact  of  Lodgment,  159  ;  sends  Additional 
Artillery  to  Blakely,  189  ;  at  Hawkins'  Head 
quarters,  192  ;  Reply  to  General  Steele.  221  ; 
Purpose  as  to  Besieging  Mobile  from  Land 
Side,  223 ;  Estimate  of  his  Forces  in  Field. 
232. 

Canoe  (Station),  99, 115. 

CAPON,  Lieut.  J. ,  Enterprise  of,  145. 

CARR,  Gen.  E.  A.,  Drills  in  his  Division,  39  ;  Move 
ment  of  Division  on  Spanish  Fort,  50  ;  Loss 
in  his  Division  First  Day,  54  ;  its  Approaches, 
•  77,  79,  91,  149  ;  assaults  Spanish  Fort,  151, 
155. 

Casualties  at  Spanish  Fort,  161. 

Cavalry  (sea  Lucas,  SpurJing,  Wilson). 

CHALMERS,  Gen.,  moves  toward  Columbus,  264. 

CHAPMAN,  Maj.,  186,  219. 

CHARLTON,  Lieut.  William,  at  Blakely,  216. 

Chicago  Board  of  Trade  Battery,  255. 

Chickasaw  (Gunboat) ,  67. 

CHRISTENSEN,  Col. ,  mentioned,  221. 

CHRISTLEK,  Col.,  107. 

CHUBB,  Capt.,  176. 

CLANTON,  Gun.,  his  Brigade,  107  ;  captured  at 
Pringle's  Creek,  109. 

CLARK,  Col.  G.  W.,  24, 169  ;  in  Assault,  209. 

CLARK,  Corporal,  mentioned,  182. 

CLARK,  Lieut.,  153. 

CLARK,  Lieut.  A.  G., "killed  in  Charge,  156,157. 

CLARY,  Lieut.,  134. 

Clothing,  Allowance  in  Field,  29. 

COATS,  Col.,  at  Blakoly,  211. 

COBB'S  Colored  Regiment  of  Engineers,  14. 

COCKIIELL,  Brig. -Gen.,  his  Command,  44  ;  at  Alexis 
Spring,  45  ;  at  Blakely,  123. 

CODDELL,  Lieut.  R.,  killed  at  Blakely,  216. 

COLEMAN,  Capt. ,  213. 

COLEMAN,  Col.,  86. 

Colored  Division  (see  Hawkins). 

COMSTOCK,  Gen.,  visits  Blakely,  128 ;  Services 
at  Spanish  Fort,  166. 

Confederate  Officer,  Diary  of,  68  (note),  77,  80,  135 
(note),  142. 

Confederates,  strengthen  Defences  on  Eastern 
Shore  Mobile  Bay,  19  ;  Plans  and  Position  of, 
44  ;  Loss  in  Front  of  Second  Division,  210  ;  in 
Garrard's  Front,  215  ;  Humorous  Remarks  of 
Soldiers,  238  ;  Deserters  from  Army,  241 
(note). 

CO.VNELLY,  Maj.  J.  M. ,  60. 

COONEY,  Private  G.  R.,  mentioned,  182. 

COOPKR,  Col.,  commands  Montgomery,  259. 

Corduroying  Roads,  34. 116. 

Corps  (see  "  Thirteenth,"  "  Sixteenth,"  "  Re 
serve"). 

COWAN,  Corporal ,  219. 

COWAN.  Maj.  J.  E.,  110. 

Cox,  Capt.,  Battery  of,  81,  150 :  at  Blakely, 
190. 

CRAIG,  Capt.  S.  F. ,  131 

CRANDALI.,  Col.,  wounded  at  Blakely,  125, 196. 

CRAVEN,  Commodore,  at  Fort  Morgan,  15. 

CRAVEN,  Lieut. -Col.,  218.  • 

CROSBY,  Lieut. -Com.  P. ,  182. 

CROSSLAND,  Brigade  of,  247,  250. 


CROXTON,  Gen.  J.  T.,  Operations  of  his  Brigade, 
260  ;  captures  Tuscaloosa,  261  ;  Combat  of 
Pleasant  Ridge,  262  ;  Skirmish  with  Gen. 
Hill's  Forces,  265  ;  Observations  on  his  Opera 
tions  266. 

CURTIS,  Maj.  E.  P.,  73. 


DALLEB,  Sergeant,  218. 

Danley'a  Ferry,  39. 

DAVIDSON,  Gen.,  Expedition  of,  20. 

DAY,  Col.,  Brigade  of,  56,  93. 

DAY,  Maj.  J.  W.,150. 

DE  MAR,  Private,  mentioned,  210. 

DENNIS,  Gen.,  Brigade,  55;  at  Blakely,  181;  in 
Assault,  211-213. 

DENSMORE,  Lieut. -Col.,  participates  in  Assault, 
195,198. 

Deserters  from  Confederate  Army,  241  (note). 

Despatches,  Capture  of  Confederate,  248. 

Diary  (see  Confederate  Officer)  of  a  Soldier,  as  to 
Rations,  117,  118  (note). 

DORNBLASER,  Col.,  at  Blakely,  174,  211. 

DORR,  Col.,  260  ;  receives  Surrender  of  Tusca 
loosa,  261,262. 

DOUGLAS,  Stephen  A.,  how  received  in  Mobile,  9. 

DREW,  Col.  his  Brigade  before  Blakely,  123  ;  As 
sault  by ,  195-201. 

Drill,  Brigade,  at  Barrancas,  25. 

DRISH,  Licut.-Col.,  219. 

DUTTON,  Capt.,  mentioned  66. 

DYER,N.  M.,94. 


EAD'S  Turrets,  67. 

Ebenezer  Church,  Battle  of,  250,  251. 

EBERHART,  Lieut.. -Col. ,  21 7. 

ECTOR.  Gen.,  Texas  Brigade,  44, 151. 

Eighteenth  New  York  Battery,  83. 

Eighth  Iowa,  53;  Casualties  on  Second  Day  of 

Siege,  63  ;  Assaults  Spanish  Fort,  152-155. 
Eighth  Illinois  at  Blakely,  174;  in  Assault,  211- 

213. 

Eighth  Iowa  Cavalry,  260,  265. 
Eighth    Wisconsin    Infantry,    Skirmish    at   Fish 

River,  40  ;  at  Spanish  Fort,  54. 
Eighty-first  Illinois,  Skirmish  at  Minette  Bridge, 

51  ;  at  Spanish  Fort,  132, 155. 
Eighty-ninth  Indiana  at  Blakely,  175, 218,  219 
Eighty-sixth  (Colored)  Regiment,  194. 
Eighty-third  Ohio  at  Barrancas,  24  ;  at  Blakely, 

169  ;  in  Assault,  202,  203,  207,  '.08,  209. 
EISENHART,  Lieut.,  218. 
Eleventh  Illinois  at  Blakely,  174,  211 ,  213. 
Eleventh  Missouri  at  Spanish  Fort,  54. 
Eleventh  Wisconsin  at  Blakely,  170,  174 ;  in  As 
sault,  214-216. 

Enfilading  Fire,  Advantage  of,  in  Siege,  168. 
Equipment,  of  Infantry,  what,  29. 
Escambia,  Fight  on  the,  109,  110. 
ESSEX,  Corporal,  mentioned,  182. 
Evergreen  entered  by  Cavalry,  113. 
Exploit,  Gallant,  of  Men  of  Ninety  -fourth  Illinois, 

83. 


FARRAGUT  arrives  off  Mobile,  12  ;  Gallant  Conduct 

in  Mobile  Bay,  15,  16. 
FAULKNER,  Maj.,  109. 
FICKLIN,  Sergeant  J.  W.,  mentioned,  172. 
FIDLER,  Maj  ,  260. 


INDEX. 


271 


Fifteenth  Massachusetts  Battery  at  Blakely,  173, 
182,  189. 

Fifth  Iowa  Cavalry,  247. 

Fifth  Minnesota,  54. 

Fiftieth  Indiana  moves  from  Arkansas,  25;  at 
Spanish  Tort,  65. 

Fifty-eighth  Illinois  at  Blakely.  172,  214,  216. 

Fifty-first  (Colored)  in  Assault,  200. 

Fifty  second  Indiana  at  Blakely,  172,  214,  216. 

First  Florida  (Cavalry),  113. 

First  Indiana  (Light)  Battery,  53,  82. 

First  Indiana  (Heavy  Artillery),  81,  150;  at 
Blakely,  187. 

First  Louisiana  (Cavalry),  107  ;  its  Charge  at 
Pringle's  Creek,  103  ;  in  Combat  of  Mount 
Pleasant,  240. 

FISH,  Corporal,  mentioned,  58. 

Fish  River,  Passage  of  Sixteenth  Corps  up,  37  • 
Condition  at  Danley's,  39. 

FITCH,  Capt.  A.  H.,  79. 

Florida  Swamps,  Difficult  March  through,  10L 

FoLSom,  Lieut.,  wounded,  55. 

FORREST,  Lieut. -(Jen. ,  Situation  of  his  Command, 
242.  246  ;  at  Battle  of  Ebenezer  Church,  250, 
251  ;  in  Romantic  Combats,  255. 

Fort  (see  Gaiues,  Morgan,  Spanish,  &c.) 

Fortieth  Missouri,  52. 

Forty -eighth  Ohio,  24. 

Forty-eighth  (Colored),  196. 

Forty-fourth  Missouri,  51. 

Forty-ninth  Mississippi,  Colors  captured,  118. 

Forty-ninth  Missouri,  52. 

Forty-seventh  Illinois,  54. 

Forty -seventh  Indiana,  its  Flank  charged  on,  49. 

Forty-sixth  Illinois,  at  Blakely,  174,  211. 

Fourteenth  Indiana,  Light  Battery,  53,  C2. 

Fourteenth  Wisconsin,  52.      • 

Fourth  Iowa  Cavalry.  247. 

Fourth  Kentucky  Cavalry,  259. 

Fourth  Kentucky  Mounted  Infantry,  ':60,  '1 61. 

Fourth  Massachusetts  Battery,  78;  at  Blakely,  189. 

Fourth  Michigm  Cavalry,  254. 

Fourth  Ohio  Cavalry,  254. 

Fourth  U.  S.  Artillery,  in  Wilson's  Raid,  247. 

Fourth  U.  S.  Cavalry,  at  Selma,  255. 

Fourth  Wisconsin  Cavalry,  Lieut.  Knowles'  De 
tachment,  34. 

FOUST'S  Battery,  oa  the  March,  84  ;  at  Spanish 
Fort,  138  ;  Operations  against  Huger  and  Tra 
cy,  227,  229. 

FRANK,  Maj.  George  R.,  killed  at  Spanish  Fort,  54. 

Freedmen,  three  Regiments  of, organized  by  Wil 
son,  258. 

FRENCH,  Capt.  A.  P.,  93,  166. 

FEY,  Corporal,  mentioned,  55. 


Gaines  (Fort),  Description  of,  11  ;  Siege  of,  14, 16, 
17.' 

GAMBLE,  Lieut.  Com.,  70. 

GARRARD,  Gen.  K.,  Division  at  Sibley's  Mill,  50  ; 
before  Blakely,  170, 179  ;  new  rifle-pits  in  his 
Front,  '85  ;  Artillery  in  his  Front,  190  ;  in 
structed  to  Assault,  191  ;  in  Assault,  213-220. 

GARRETSON,  Capt.,  115. 

Garrison  of  Spanish  Fort,  60  ;  visited  by  Gen. 
Maury,  80  ;  Ammunition  of.  90  ;  Strength  of, 
140  ;  withdraws,  15R,  161  ;  of  B'.akely,  Loss  in, 
176 ;  Conduct  of,  223  ;  of  Selma,  253. 

GARRITY,  Capt.  J.,  Battery  at  Spanish  Fort,  139  ; 
Last  Requisition  for  Ammunition,  158. 

GARWOOD,  J.  R.,  mentioned,  212. 

GARY,  Capt.,  iu  Assault,  209,  210. 

GATES,  Col.  (Confed.) ,  Command  of,  44. 

DEIS,  Col.,  Brigade,  51  ;  Prepares  for  Assault, 
157,  159. 


GERE,  Lieut.-Col.  W.  B.,  54. 

GIGLR,  Capt  G.  mortally  wounded  &t  Blakely,  195. 

GILBERT,  Gen.,  Brigade  at  Blakely  170,  179,  216- 
218. 

KINN,  Capt.,  Battery  of,  190. 

GLI--ASON,  Lieut. ,  mortally  wounded  in  saving  Pris 
oners,  201. 

GOLDWOOD,  Corporal,  in  Assault,  2C4. 

GOVK,  Corporal,  mentioned,  182. 

GrssoN,  Brig. -Gen.  R.  L.  (Confer!.)  Command  of, 
44  ;  AdV'ince  from  Spanish  Fort,  45  ;  Despatch, 
50  (note) ;  Despatch  from  Spanish  Fort,  59,  61  : 
General  Order  of  (not-1) ,  87  ;  l.'c "^patches,  138  • 
Apprehension  of  being  flanked,  142  ;  Opinion 
as  to  Evacuation,  148  ;  orders  Line  restored, 
156  ;  as  a  Commander,  165. 

GILCHRIST,  Col.,  168. 

GILLIS,  Lieut. -Com.,  67. 

GINN,  Capt.  T.  J. ,  55. 

GLASGOW,  Col.,  156. 

GOXDALFO,  Lieut.-Col.  J.  B.,179,  214. 

GRANGER,  Maj. -Gen.  Gordon  (see  Thirteenth  Corps) , 
in  Siege  of  Forts  Gaines  and  Morgan,  14-.0  ; 
assigned  to  Command  Thirteenth  Corps,  25  ; 
on  Skirmish  Line,  43;  at  Spanish  Fort,  143, 
144  ;  occupies  Mobile,  223. 

GRANT,  Gen. ,  instructions  to  Banks,  13;  to  Wil 
son,  244. 

GRANT,  Lieut.-Col.,  217. 

Gravelly  Springs,  Cavalry  Camp  at,  243. 

GRAY,  Lieut.,  172, 173. 

GR,<Y,Mr.,96. 

GRAYSON,  Capt,,  Effective  Fire  of  his  Battery,  Dl. 

GREEN,  Col.  D.  P. ,  B-igade  of,  56-93. 

GRF.ENLEAF,  Lieut.,  110. 

GREENWOOD,  Capt.,  194. 

GRE^IIAM,  Lieut.,  Ii2. 

GRIER.  Co!.  D.  P.,  Brigade  of,  56,  98. 

GRIERSON,  Gen.,  Expedition  from  Memphis,  20. 

Gunboats,  Combat  with,  187. 

GUNN,  Capt.  J.,  64. 


HAGY,  Surgeon,  147. 
HALL,  Col  ,  Movement  of,  115. 
Hall's,  Railroad  Destroyed  at,  120. 
HAMPTON,  Corporal,  killed  at  Blakely,  216. 
HANLEY,  Lieut.,  180. 
HARRINGTON,  Lieui.,  213. 

HARRIS,  Col.,  Brigade  at  Blakely,  170, 179  ;  in  As 
sart,  213-216. 

HARTER.  Sergeant  S.  G.,  killed  at  Blakely.  174. 
HATCH,  Gen.,  Division  of  Cavalry  left  behind,  243. 
HAWKINS'    (Gen.)   Division   (Colored)    Arrives    at 

Barrancas,  25  ;  March  from  Pensacola,  101- 

103  ;   before  Bhikely,  li:3-l'25,  168,    163,  171. 

181,  187  ;  Trenches.  101  ;  Assault  on  Blakely, 

193-202. 
HAYS,  Col.  B.  F.,  His  Opinion  of  the  Ammunition, 

166. 

HAYWOOD,  Lieut.,  bridges  Alabama  River,  256. 
HEATII,  Col.  W.  H.,  mentioned,  55. 
HENDERSON,  Sergeant,  212. 
HENDRICK'S  (Capt.)  Battery,  C2,  134  ;  at  Blakely, 

190. 

HERNDEN,  Col.  T.  H.,  89. 
HILL.  Gen.  B.  H.,  Brigade  of,  265. 
HILL^.  Lieut.-Col.,  mentioned,  43  ;  in  Assault,  218- 

218. 

HOLBROOE,  Col.,  85. 

HOLCOMB,  Capt.,  in  Assault  on  Blakely,  198, 199. 
HOLLIDAY,  Corporal,  mentioned,  58. 
H-JLTZCLAW,  Brig. -Gen.  j:  T.  (Confed.),  Command 

of,  44,  SO  ;    Regiments  in  his   Brigade,  8W; 

Stakes  out  New  Line,  143  ;  Character  as  an 

Officer,  165. 


272 


INDEX. 


HOLTZCLAW  Lieut.  (Aide-de-Camp),  156. 

HOOD,  Gen. ,  Veterans  from  his  Ariuy,  44. 

HOPKINS,  Corporal,  205. 

Hospital,  Provision  for,  28  ;  at  Spanish  Fort  147. 

HOTCUKISS'  (Capt.)  Batt.'ry  at  Blakely,  172, 1/3. 

HOWARD,  Capt.,  182  :  wounded,  207. 

HOWE,  Col  J.  H.,  5 1,155. 

HrBRARD,  Oapt.,  on  Skirmish-Line,  175,  219. 

HCBBARD,  Col.,  Brigade  at  Spanish  Fort,  54, 77,  93, 

HUBBARD,  Maj.  J.  M.,  commands  Pontoon  Train. 

244. 

HUBBARD.  Private  E.  P.,  219. 
HUDSON,  John,  killed  at  Blakely,  127. 
Huger  (Fort),  70.  71.  137 :  Howitzer  dismounted 

ia,  145  :  Reduction  of,  227-232. 
HUGHES,  Capt. ,  205. 
HUGHES,  Corporal,  210. 
HUMESTON,  Surgeon,  147. 
HUXLEY,  Col.  P.  F.,  89. 
HuaeEY,  Color-Sergeant,  in  Assault,  204. 
HCTCHIXSON,  Maj.,  his  Advance  of  Skirmish-Line, 

179  ;  in  Assault,  217,218. 


[llinois  (see  Number  of  Regiment). 

Incident  on  Skirmish-Line,  134  :  of  the  Siego,  235- 
238. 

Indiaua  (see  Number  of  Regiment). 

INGAMILLS,  Corporal,  killed  at  Blakely,  216. 

LVGERSON,  Capt. ,  205. 

Inspections,  frequent  before  Campaign,  26  ;  Sun 
day,  130. 

Iowa  (see  Number  of  Regiment). 

IRWIX,  Capt.  W.,94. 

lvE3,Maj.,240. 


JACKSON,  Capt.  R.  E.,  214. 

JACKSON,  Gen.  W.  H. ,  one  of  his  Despatches  cap 
tured,  248  ;  Despatch  in  regard  to  Tuscaloosu, 

261. 
JACOBY,  Capt.  L.,  Light  Battery  at  Spanish  Fort, 

53. 

JAMES,  Maj..  158. 
JENKINS,  Capt.,  194. 
JOHN-SON,  dipt.  E.  P.,  113. 
JOHNSON,  Capt.  (Third  Iowa  Cavalry)  in  a  Charge, 

247. 
JOHNSTON.  Col.  (of  Second  Michigan  Cavalry),  260  ; 

in  Combat  of  Pleasant  Ridge,  232-264,  267. 
JOHNSTON,  Gen.  J.  E. ,  his  Remarks  on  Defences 

of  Mobile,  10. 
JONES,  Col.  Bush,  Despatch  to,  near  Hollywood,  40 

(note). 
JONES, Col.  J.B.,  at  Blakely,  124, 125  ;  participates 

in  the  Assault,  195,  196. 
JONES,  Lieut. -Col.,  in  Assault,  205. 
JONES,  Lieut. -Com.,  67. 


Kansas  (see  Number  of  Regiment). 
HEELER,  Lieut-Col.  W.  B.,  55. 
KELLY.  Col.  J.  H.,  24,  126,  169  ;  in  Assault,  209. 
KELLY.  Col.  (of  Fourth  Kentucky  Mounted  Infan 
try),  260. 

KENAGA,  Lieut.  W.  F..  204. 
Kenner,  Encampment  at,  21,  22. 
Kentucky  (see  Number  of  Regiment). 
KKTLEMIXG,  Capt.  F.  P.,  155. 
Kickap  H)  (Gunboat),  67. 
KlMBALL,  Major,  89. 


KINNEY,  Col  T.  J.,218. 

KIXSEY,  Licut.-Col.,  Brigade  of,  65;  at  Blakely 
174,211. 

KIKKLAND,  Lieut.  Com.  ,67. 

KNEE,MUJ.  S.  G.  55. 

KNIFE,  Gen. ,  Cavalry  Division  of,  sent  round  to  Can- 
by,  243. 

KNOWLE?,  Lieut.,  mentioned,  34. 

KREZ,  Col.  C.,  Brigade  of,  56,  €4,  93, 137. 


LACY,  Capt.,  mentioned,  192,  221. 

LAKE.  Col.,  in  Assault  on  Blakely,  216. 

LANG',  Capt.,  179. 

LAWRENCE,  Col.,  214. 

LEADBETTER,  Gen.,  Works  built  by,  10. 

LEAKE,  Lieut.-Col.  126, 169  ;  in  Assault,  209. 

LEARY,  Col.,  109. 

LEE,  Gen.  R.  E.,  Taylor's  Despatch  to,  242  (note). 

LEONARD,  Lieut.,  at  Blakely,  172. 

LJDELL,  Gen.  St.  John,  Activity  of  his  Scouts,  39- 
Despatches  40  (note)  ;  Commands  on  Eastern. 
Shore,  44;  Hans  of,  46,  47  (and  note);  De 
spatches  from,  80,  83,  86,  90  ;  at  Blakely,  123 
127  (note)  ;  171,  176,  ISO,  188  ;  prepares  tc 
receive  Assault,  193. 

LIEURNEK,  Capt.,  Works  built  by,  10. 

LINDSAY,  Col.  R.,  Attack  on  Federal  Pickets,  49  ; 
helps  cover  Retreat  of  Garrison,  158. 

LOCKETT,  Col.,  conducts  half  of  Spanish  Fort  Gar 
rison  to  Blakely,  162. 

LONG,  Gen.,  Cavalry  Division  of,  243  ;  at  Ebenezer 
Church,  250.  251  ;  at  Selma,  253,  265. 

Louisiana  (see  Number  of  Regiment). 

Low,  Lieut.  Com  ,  67. 

LOWE,  Sergeant  E.  D. ,  in  Assault,  207. 

LOWELL,  Capt.,  190. 

LUCAS,  Gen.,  Cavalry  Brigade  reaches  Barrancas, 
26  ;  Mirch  from  Pensacola,  102,  103  ;  Crosses 
Pine  Barren,  105  ;  Skirmish  at  Mitchell's 
Creek,  107;  Combat  at  Pringle's  Creek,  108, 
109  ;  before  Blakely,  119  ;  Moves  to  Claiborne, 
176  ;  Combat  of  Mount  Pleasant,  239. 
,  bis  Battery,  72. 

LYON,  Mr.  Wm.,  oners  Colored  Men  for  Soldiers, 
241  (note). 


in 

MACK,  Capt.,  Battery  of,  83  (see  Eighteenth  New 
York),  93,  130,  133, 150  :  Arrives  at  Blakeiy. 
190. 

MACKAY,  Col.,  mentioned,  35. 

MAJOR.  Corporal, mentioned, 58. 

MAIN,  Lieut. -Col.,  214. 

MALLOY,  Lieut.  T. ,  killed  at  Blakely,  216. 

MAXIIAR'DT,  Lieut.,  killed  at  Blakely,  196. 

March,  Difficult,  of  Thirteenth  Corps,  33-35. 

MARKS,  Maj.  W.,71. 

MAR?H,  Col.  J.  H.,54. 

MARSHALL,  Col.  W.  R.,  wounded,  41  ;  Brigade  at 
Spanish  Fort,  54,  77,  93, 136, 160. 

MARTIN,  Lieut.-Col..  Despatch  of,  2J4  (note). 

MARTIN,  Lieut.,  205. 

Maryland  (see  Number  of  Regiment). 

Massachusetts  (see  Number  of  Regiment). 

MASSENBERT,  his  Battery,  72. 

MATTHEWS,  Col.  A.  C.,  43  ;  at  Blakely,  186. 

MAURY,  Maj. -Gen.  D.  H-,  His  Report  referred  to, 
20  (iiotiM  ;  Confederate  Commander,  District 
of  the  Giilf,  44  ;  his  Visit  to  the  Garrison,  80  , 
(for  Despatches  to,  see  Lidell,  Gibson  ;) 
moves  from  Mobile,  223  ;  Observations  of,  on 
Siege  of  Blakely,  224. 

MAYNOR,  Confederate  Color -Bearer,  109. 


INDEX. 


273 


MCALLISTER,  Col.,  Engineer  Operations  of,  166. 
McARTHUR,  Gen.,  Pickets  felt  of  in  his  Front,  40  ; 

Advance  of  Division  on  Spanish  Fort,  52,  54, 

94,  160. 

MCCOMAS,  Capt. ,  96,  97. 
MoCoNNEL,  Lieut,  (of  Eleventh  Wisconsin),  179, 

McCoNXEL,  Lieut.,  130. 

McCooK,  Gen.,  Cavalry  Division  of,  213,  258. 
McCoRMiCK,  Col. ,  wounded  at  Selma,  255. 
McDermett  (Fort),  in  Line  of  Works  at  Spanish 

Fort,  48,  49,71. 
McDoNtLD,  Lieut.  A.,   174  ;   Stratagem  of,  178  • 

Gallant  Conduct  of,  215. 
McEnroe,  Maj.,  120. 
McFARLAND,  Ca.pt  ,  66. 
MCGINNI?,  Gen.,  at  Siege  of  Fort  Gaines,  14. 
McLAiN,  Lie :;t  ,  213. 

MCMILLBN,  Col. ,  Brigade  at  Spanish  Fort,  54,  94. 
MCNULTA,  Col.  Jolm,  C6,  79,  160. 
MERCHANT,  Caj:t.  Geo.  E.,  in  Assault,  206. 
Meredian,  Headquarters  Confederate  Department 

Comman'er,  44. 
MERRIAM,  Lieut. -Col.,  194. 
Metacomet,  Crew  of,  removes  Torpedoes,  132. 
Michigan  (see  Number  of  Regiment). 
MILLER.  Maj.  C.  A.,  113. 
MILLER,  Maj.  J.  S.,  214. 
MILLKR,  Capt. ,  112. 
MILLER,  Col.,  wounded  at  Selma,  255. 
Mihvaukie  (Gunboat),  Sinking  cf,  67. 
Minettc  (Bay)  Battery  on,  81,119. 
Minnesota  (see  Number  of  Regiment). 
MINTY,  Col.,  at  Selma,  254. 
Missouri  (see  Number  of  Regiment). 
MITCHELL,  Lieut.  J.  H.,  63. 
Mobile,  Remarks  conce  ning,  9  ;  its  Fortifications, 

10,  11  ;  Earlier  Operations  against.  13  ;  Easy 

Capturo,  when  coul  1   have   been   made,  20  ; 

Confederate  Garrison  of,  44  :  Feeling  in  during 

Siogv),  88  ;  occupied,  223. 
Montevullo,  Skirmish  at,  248. 
Montgomery,  to  what  Extent  an  Objective  Point,  } 

31  ;  entered  by  Wilson's  Column,  259. 
MOORE,  Co!.  F.  W.,  24;  his  Brigade,  101,  170; 

Parallels  widened,  182  ;  in  the  Assault.  202, 

209. 
MOORE.  Col.  J.  B.,  Demonstration  of  Brigade  on 

Western  Shore,  36  ;  Advance  on  Spanish  Fort, 

51,  77,  94  ;  Movements  of,  158,  159. 
MOORE,  Col.  (117th  111.).  216. 
MOORE,  Maj.  Frank,  113. 
MOORE,  Sergeant  D.  B.,  mentioned,  179  ;  in  Assault 

at  Blake  ly,  215. 
MORGAN,  Capt. ,  39  (note). 
MORGAN  (Fort),  Description  of,  11:  Siege  of,  14- 

20. 
MORSE,  Capt.  F.  W.,  his  Battery  at  Spanish  Fort, 

63,  82, 158 

Mortar-Shells,  thrown  at  Night,  141. 
MORTON,  Capt.,  8-2. 
Mount  Pleasant,  Combat  of.  239. 
MUDGET,  Maj.,  194. 
Mras,  Capt.  H.,  152, 
MURPHY,  Capt.  J.,  in  Assault,  214. 
MURRAY,  Orderly,  mentioned,  212. 
MYERS,  Capt.  L.  K.,  Adventure  on  Skirmish-Line. 

73-77. 


nr 

Naval  Battery  in  Sixteenth  Corps  Front,  146. 

Navy,  Operations,  66,  69,  94,  132,  139,  145, 148, 
227-232. 

Negroes,  as  Soldiers,  143  (see  Colored  Troops)  : 
Lieut.-Geu.  Taylor's  Dispositiifh  to  employ, 
241  (note)  ;  Wilson  organizes,  258. 


NEWTON,  Capt.,  builds  Bridge  over  Pine  Barren, 

104  ;  constructs  Battery  at  Blakely,  181. 
NEWTON,  Lieut.,  A.  C.,  85. 
New  York  (see  Number  of  Regiment). 
NIELDS,  H.  C.,  Bravery  of  15. 
Nineteenth  Iowa,  at  Spanish  Fort,  57, 156. 
Ninety-eighth  Illinois  Mounted  Infantry  at  Selma. 

254. 
Ninety-fifth  Illinois,  52  ;  Loss  first  day  at  Spanish 

Fort,  64,  158. 
Ninety-fourth  Illinois  in  Siege  of  Fort  Morgan,  17  ; 

Gallant  Exploit  of  Men  of,  at  Spanish  Fort, 

83  ;  loss  in.  93. 
Ninety-ninth  Illinois  in  Skirmish,  43  :  at  Blakely. 

186. 
Ninety-seventh  Illinois,  24  ;  in  Assault,  202,  203, 

204,  '206. 
Ninety-sixth  Ohio  in  Siege  of  Forts  Morgan  and 

Gaines,  14  ;  at  Spanish  Fort,  56. 
Ninth  Minnesota  at  Spanish  Fort.  54, 
NOBLE,  Capt.  J.  L.,  Attack  on  his  working  Party, 

65. 
NOBLE,  Col.  J.  W.,  at  Montevallo,  247,  24S  :  Scouis 

from  Selma,  257. 
North  Carolina  Troops,  154. 
NORTON,  Joel,  mentioned,  57. 
NORWOOD,  Capt.,  in  Assault  on  Blakely,  198. 
N YE,  Maj.,  195. 


Observations,  on  the  Siege  of  Spanish  Fort,  163- 
167  ;  on  Siege  of  Blakely,  223-226  ;  on  Wil 
son's  Raid,  268,  267. 

O'CoNNEL,  Lieut.,  255. 

Octorara    (Gunboat) ,  67 ;   some  Account  of,  65 
cpons  Fire,  79,  132,  139,  145,  159  ;  splendid 
Firing  by,  2f8. 

Ohio  (see  Number  of  Raiment). 

Old  Spanish  Fort,  71;  Night  of  Assault,  159. 

One  Hundred  and  Eighth  Illinois,  51,  53,  63,  155. 

One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Illinois,  '231. 

One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Ohio,  moves  to  Bar 
rancas,  22  ;  before  Blakely,  12u  ;  in  Assault, 
209,  210. 

One  Hundred  and  Nineteenth  Illinois,  175,  185  ; 
in  Assault,  218,  219. 

One  Hundred  and  Seventeenth  Illinois,  2l6,  218. 

One  Hundred  andSeventv-eighth  New  York.  179, 
214. 

One  Hundred  and  Sixty-fiVst  New  York,  Attack 
upon ,  49. 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Illinois,  51,  53, 
63,  155. 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty -second  Illinois,  186,218, 
219. 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Illinois,  Mounted 
Infantry,  at  Selma,  254. 

Orders,  to  fit  Troops  for  Campaign,  27  (note). 

OREM,  Lieut.,  woimde:!,  207. 

Organization,  of  Besieging  Army,  21  ;  of  Cavalry 
Corps,  243. 

Osage  (Gunboat),  Sinking  of,  70. 

OSTERHAUS,  Maj.-Gen.  P.  J.,at  Blakely,  127,  186. 
194. 

OWEN,  his  Battery,  71. 


PAGE,  Gen.  (Confed.),  at  Fort  Morgan,  19. 

PALFREY,  Col. ,  82. 

PALFREY,  Capt.  H.  G. ,  83. 

PALMER,  Commodore  J.  S.,  229. 

PARK,  Capt.,  214. 

PARKER,  Lieut,,  92,  227. 

PATSMIER,  Capt.,  71. 


18 


274 


INDEX. 


PATTON,  Col.  J. ,  commands  Artillery,  60,  70. 
Pcusacola,  Repairs  on  Wharf  at,  96  ;  Condition 

of,  97  ;  Steele  moves  from,  100. 
Perduo,  River,  forded,  117. 
FERKISS,  Sergt.,  205. 
PERRIN,  Corporal,  133. 
PERRY,  Lieut.-CoI.  <;..  24, 105,  169,  204. 
1'KTERS?,  Lieut.  -Col. ,  248.  j 

PETTIBJNE,  Lij;.t.  H.  D.,  mentioned,  178,  192. 
PHELPS,  Sergt.  W.  H.,  killed  in  Assault,  216. 
PHILLIPS,  his  Battery,  72  ;  relieved,  by  Garri- 

ty's,  139. 

PICKETING,  Capt.,  105. 
PiEN,Maj.  <-.,  234. 
PILE,  Gen.  W.  A.,  at  Blakely,  172, 191  ;  Assault  by 

his  Brigade,  104, 195,  200. 
Pino  Barren  (Creek),  Picket  at,  99  ;  bridged,  104, 

105. 

Pioneers,  Company  to  each  Division,  29. 
Plan  of  Operations,  31. 
Pleasant  Ridge,  Combat  of,  252. 
Pollard  (Ala.),  Post  at,  99  ;  Entry  of,  111. 
Pontoon  (Trai.i),  at  Barrancas,  95  ;   of  Wilson's 

Column,  244. 

Pringle's  Creek,  Combat  on,  108, 109. 
Prisoners,  Safety  of  Garrison,  201 ;  Arrangements 

lor  Exchange  of  Wilson's  and  Forrest's,  257. 


Quarters,  Allowance  of  on  Campaign,  28. 


RAPER,  Lieut.,  81,131. 

Rations,  Limitation  of,  in  the  Field,  29  ;  of  Garrison 
of  Spanish  Fort,  89  ;  reduced,  115,  117  ;  to 
Colored  Troops,  123  :  of  Wilson's  Cavalry,  243. 
244. 

Red  Fort,  shelled,  131. 

REED,  Capt.  J.  R.,  55. 

Register  (Mobile),  Remarks  on  Fall  of  Selma,  143 
(note). 

RENDELBROOK,  Lieut.,  253. 

Reserve  Corps,  of  the  West  Mississippi, 21  ;  Organ 
ized  into  Thirteenth  Corps.  25. 

Retreat  of  Garrison  from  Spanish  Fort,  161. 

RICE,  Capt.,  at  Blakely,  190. 

RIDNOUR,  Lier.t.,  83. 

RILEY,  Thos.,110. 

RI.NAKER,  Col.,  Brigade  at  Blakely  170;  changes 
Position,  174  ;  in  Assault,  213,  218,  219,  220. 

Road,  through  the  Swamps,  34,  101,  115, 116. 

ROBINSON,  Capt.,  255. 

ROCKWELL,  Capt. ,  100. 

RODNEY,  his  Battery  mentioned,  247. 

Rodolph,  (Tinclad),  sinking  of,  94. 

RODY,  Gen.,  Division  of,  247,  250,  at  Selma,  255. 

ROGERS,  Col.  A.  W.,  Skirmish  at  Minette  Bayou, 
51  ;  at  Spanish  Fort,  132,  155. 

ROGERS  Lieut.,  in  Assault  on  Blakely,  198, 199. 

ROWE,  William,  Daring  of,  134. 

ROWSE,  Lieut,  182. 

RYAN,  Capt. ,  54. 


SANDERSON,  9.  Lieut.,  213. 

SCHAFFER,  Lieut.  A. ,  killed  at  Pringle's  Creek,  110 

SCHULTZ,  Corporal,  mentioned.  217. 

SCOFJELD,  Col.,  Brigade  of,  168  ;  Assault  by,  195- 
201. 

Second  Division  (Thirteenth  Corps)  ordered  to 
move  from  Barrancas,  95  ;  March  from  Pen- 
Bacola,  101-103  ;  Arrival  at  the  Escambia,  110  ; 


at  Canoe  Station,  116;  before  Blakely,  12ft- 
127,  .168,  171  ;  Batteries  in  Front  of,  180  ; 
ordered  to  be  in  Readiness  to  march.  186  ;  its 
Trenches,  190  ;  prepares  for  an  Advance,  192  ; 
Assault  on  Blakely,  202-210. 

SEARS,  Lieut. -Col.,  169. 

Second  Connecticut  (Battery)  at  Blakely,  172,  180, 
189,  210. 

Second  Illinois  (Battery),  190. 

Second  Illinois  (Cavalry),  118,  118. 

Second  Iowa  (Battery) ,  55,  82. 

Second  Maine  (Cavalry).  113, 118. 

Second  Massachusetts  (Battery),  185. 

Second  Michigan  (Cavalry),  260,  261  ;  Brave  Con 
duct  in  Combat  of  Pleasant  Ridge,  262,  263. 

Second  New  York  (Vt't.  Cavalry),  107. 

Second  Tennessee  (Cavalry)  ,  43. 

Selma,  Notice  of  its  Fortitications,  252  ;  captured, 
255  ;  Destruction  of  Property  in,  256,  i58. 

Seventeenth  Indiana  Mounte  I  Infantry,  250,  251. 

Seventeenth  Ohio  (Battery)  ISO,  185,  187. 

Seventh  Massachusetts  (Battery)  at  Spanish  Fort, 
57,  78,  92. 

Seventh  Vermont,  56  ;  Capture  of  Detachment  of. 
84-87. 

Seventy -second  Illinois,  51;  Loss  first  day  at  Span 
ish  Fort,  54  ;  Charges  Garrison  Skirmishers, 
158,  159. 

Seventy-second  Ohio,  54. 

Seventy-seventh  Illinois  in  Siege  of  Forts  Morgan 
and  Gaines.  14. 

Seventy -seventh  Ohio  leaves  Arkansas,  25. 

Seventy-sixth  Illinois,  24  ;  in  Assault,  204,  205. 

Seventy -sixth  (Colored)  Regiment,  195. 

Seventy-third  (Colored)  Regiment,  194  ;  plants  lU 
Colors  on  Works,  201. 

Sharpshooters,  77,  146  ;  magnanimity  of  Confed 
erate,  134  ;  Otfer  to  surrender,  159. 

SHEA,  Corporal,  mentioned,  216. 

SHEETZ,  Col.,  at  Biakely,  211. 

SHELIHA,  Lieut. -Co!.  V.,  Works  built  by,  11. 

SHEPHERD,  Capt.,  160. 

SIBERT,  Lieut.,  134. 

SIBLEY,  C. ,  Mill  of,  43. 

SIBLEY,  Lieut. ,  attacks  Wagon-train,  35. 

SIBLEY,  0.,Mill  of.  45  :  Outpost  withdrawn  from, 
119. 

Siege-train  organized  at  Fort  Gaines,  26. 

Siege  of  Spanish  Fort,  Progress  of,  147  ;  com 
pleted  ,  160  (see  Blakely). 

SIMON,  Sergeant  E.,  mentioned,  201. 

Sixteenth  Corps  moves  down  the  Mississippi,  25, 
26  ;  at  Fish  River,  37  ;  investment  of  Spanish 
Fort,  50-55,  02  ;  Use  of  Wooden  Mortars,  138  ; 
moves  to  Montgomery,  232. 

Sixth  Kentucky  (Cavalry),  260;  in  Combat  of 
Pleasant  Ri'dge,  262,  263. 

Sixth  Minnesota,  43,  172,  217,  218. 

Sixty-eighth  (Colorea)  Regiment,  its  Part  in  As 
sault,  195-200. 

Sixty-ninth  Indiana  at  Barrancas,  24  ;  in  Assault, 
204,  207. 

Skirmishers  (see  Sharpshooters)  ;  Advance  of,  at 
Blakely,  171 ;  Communication  between  184. 

SLACK,  Gen.,  Brigade  of,  55-  at  Spanish  Fort,  Gffv 
161;  at  Blakely,  211.. 

SLOCUM,  Capt.  C.  H. ,  72, 145. 

SMITH,  Capt.  J.  J.'s,  Pontoniers,  34. 

SMITH,  Lieut.  W.  F..,  at  Spanish  Fort,  53. 

SMITH,  Maj.-Gen.  A.  J.  (see  Sixteenth  Corps)  ; 
narrow  Fscape  at  Minette  Bridge,  51 ;  re 
bukes  Men  for  cheering  him,  52  ;  has  to  move 
Quarters,  72  ;  Operations  in  his  Front,  133, 
151-156 ;  Intention  to  assault  Huger  and 
Tracy,  2cO. 

SNYDER,  Lieut. ,  in  Assault,  210. 

Soldiers  (see  Sharpshooters,  Skirmishers)  ;  re 
ligious  Worship  by,  41  ;  in  Bivouac,  50 ;  on 


INDEX. 


275 


Short  Rations,  117  ;  after  Bombardment,  140  ; 
Communication  on  Skirmish-Line,  184  ;  Re 
mark  of  Colored  in  regard  to  Shells,  189  ; 
Characteristic  Humor  of,  191  ;  Remarks  of 
Confederate,  238  ;  Valor  at  Sehna,  :-55  ;  Man 
ner  of  crossing  Streams,  261,  264, 265. 

Sortie,  on  Party  of  Seventh  Vermont,  84;  expec 
tation  of  at  Blakely,  169, 174. 

Spanish  Fort,  Description  of,  48.  49  ;  Investment 
of,  50  ;  Continuation  of  Sisge,  60, 130  ;  Num 
ber  of  Guns  in  Position  to  April  4,  139  ; 
assaulted,  151  ;  captured,  160;  Observations 
on  Siege  of,  163-167. 

SPENCE,  Col.,  Despatches  to  at  Montrose,  40  (uote)  ; 
scouting,  45  (and  note). 

SPICELEY.  Col.  W.  T.,  21;  Brigade  of,  on  March, 
102  ;'  enters  Pollard,  111  ;  at  Blakely,  127, 
170  ;  in  Assault,  202, 207. 

FPURLING,  Lieut.-Col.  A.  B.,  Operations  of,  112-114  ; 
captures  Outpost,  118  ;  Capture  by,  183. 

Squadron,  Naval,  66  (see  Navy). 

Staff,  Organization  ot,30 

STAMPER,  Lieut.,  147. 

STARR,  Lieut.-Col.,  mentioned,  58. 

STEARNS,  Capt.  R.  B.,  Capture  of,  84-87. 

SIEELE,  Maj.-Gen.  F.,  commands  Forces  at  Kenner, 
21 ;  assumes  Command  Column  at  Barrancas, 
95 ;  marches  from  Pensacola,  100 ;  turns 
toward  Blakely,  114  ;  Headquarters  at  Sib- 
ley's,  170  ;  Reply  to  Canby,  185  ;  prepares  to 
advance,  192  ;  in  the  Assault,  221 ;  moves  to 
Montgomery,  232. 

STETSON,  Capt.  C.  G.,  killed  at  Spanish  Fort,  132. 

STOCKER,  Lieut.,  73. 

STOCKTON,  Lieut.-Col.,  mentioned,  36. 

Stockton,  Town  of,  Steele's  Column  reaches,  117. 

STONE,  Capt.,  mentioned,  58- 

STORER,  Capt.,  mentioned,  57. 

Streams,  Difficulties  in  crossing,  261,  264,  265. 

SURGET,  Capt.,  Despatch  to  Gen.  Hodges,  241. 

SWAN,  Lieut.,  185. 

SWITZER.  Sergt.  John,  212. 


TAISET,  Lieut.  123. 

TAYLOR,  Capt. ,  killed  in  Charge,  251. 

TAYLOR,  Lieut.-Col.,  181. 

TAYLOR,  Lieut. -Gen.  Richard,  his  Command,  44  ; 
his  Despatches  to  Gcn.Lse,44  (note)  ;  Con 
dition  of  his  Command,  241,  242  ;  Leaves  Sel- 
rna,  253  ;  Visits  Mobile,  257. 

Tecumseh  (Ship),  in  Mobile  Bay,  15. 

Tennessee  (Ram) ,  Encounter  with,  16. 

Tennessee  (see  Number  of  Regiment). 

Tenth  Kansas  in  Skirmish,  43  ;  at  Blakely,  179, 
181 ;  in  Assault,  216-213. 

Tenth  Minnesota,  54. 

Tenth  Missouri  Cavalry,  247. 

Texas  Regiments,  151. 

THATCHER,  Rear-Admiral,  66  ;  adopts  Means  to  re 
move  Torpedoes,  133,  232. 

Third  Indiana  Battery,  55,  82. 

Third  Iowa  Cavalry,  247,  251. 

Third  Maryland  (Dismounted  Cavalry),  14. 

Thirteenth  Corps,  organized,  25  ;  March  to  Fish 
River  33-36  ;  Investment  of  Spanish  Fort, 
55-58;  Operations,  Second  day  of  Siege,  64; 
Filth  day,  82  ;  Casualties  in,  138-139  ;  Enthu 
siasm  in,  159. 

Thirtieth  Missouri,  41. 

Thirty-eighth  I^vra,  in  Siege  of  Fort  Morgan,  17. 

Thirty-fifth  Iowa,  55. 

Thirty-fifth  Wisconsin  leaves  Arkansas,  25. 

Thirty-fourth  Iowa  in  Siege  of  Forts  Gaines  and 
Morgan,  14-20  ;  moves  to  Barrancas,  22  •  at 
Blakely,  127, 169  ;  in  Assault,  209,  210. 


Thirty-fourth  New  Jersey,  174,  214,  218. 

Thirty -second  Iowa,  179. 

Thirty-seventh  Illinois  in  Assault,  209,  210. 

Thirty-third  Illinois,  54. 

Thirty-third    Iowa    moves    from    Arkansas,  £5 , 

Casualties  in,  64. 
Thirty-third  Missouri,  55. 
Thirty-third  Wisconsin,  51,  54. 
THOMAS,  Brig. -Gen.  B.  M,,  Confederate  Command 

of,  44,  80. 
THOMPSON  ,  Corporal ,  218. 

iHORNBURY,  Lieut.-Col.,  120. 

TUMS,  Capt.,  214. 

Torpedoes  near  D'Olieve's  Creek,  42  ;  sweeping 
Cnannel  for  132  ;  Effects  of  Explosion  of  One, 
200  ;  at  Blakely,  222. 

Tracy  (Fort),  10,  7*1,  137  :  Additions  to  its  Para- 
pet,  145  ;  Reduction  of  227-232. 

Transportation,  Allowance  on  Campaign,  28. 

Transports  (Confed.),  fi  el  on,  81. 

Tread  way,  Work  on,  80  ;  Garrison  retreats  over, 
157. 

TREMAIN,  Corporal,  in  Assault.  205. 

Trenches,  work  in,  at  Spanish  Fort,  78  ;  com 
menced  at  Blakely,  128  ;  Length  of,  at  Spanish 
Fort,  148  ;  how  should  be  built,  166  ;  Extent 
of  Besiegers'  at  Blakely,  190. 

Triou,  Skirmish  at,  260. 

TRULL,  Cuj.t.,  Battery  of,  78, 189. 

TURNER,  Col.  Charles,  53,155. 

TUTT,  Capt.,  withdraws  from  Greenwood,  45  ;  De 
spatches  from,  98  (uote). 

Twelfth  Iowa.  55. 

Twelfth  Missouri  Cavalry,  244. 

Twentieth  Iowa  before  Blakely,  126  ;  in  Assault, 
209,  210. 

Twentieth  Wisconsin  in  Siege  of  Fort  Morgan,  16  ; 
at  Spanish  Fort,  57. 

Twenty-eighth  Wisconsin  moves  from  Arkansas, 
25  ;  at  Spanish  Fort,  56  ;  Casualties  in,  64. 

Twenty -first  Alabama  at  Minetto  Bri  Ige,  51. 

Twenty-first  Iowa  in  Skirmish,  42,43  ;  at  Spanish 
Fort,  65. 

Twenty-first  Missouri,  218,  219. 

Twenty-first  New  York  Battery,  56. 

Twenty-fourth  Indiana  moves  from  Kenner  to 
Birranc-is,  22  ;  destroys  Railroad  at  Pollard, 
112  ;  at  Hall's,  120  ;  at  Blakely.  127  ;  in  As 
sault,  206. 

Twenty-ninth  Illinois,  Less  in,  79. 

Twonty-ninth  IOWD  moves  from  Arkansas,  25  ;  at 
Spanish  Fort,  65,  79. 

Twenty-second  Louisiana  (Confed.),  70. 

Twenty-seventh  Iowa  in  Assault  on  Blakely.  216, 
218. 

Twenty-seventh  Wisconsin  attached  to"  the  Thir 
teenth  Corps ,  25. 

Twenty -sixth  Indiana,  54. 

Twenty-sixth  New  York,  Battery  hauled  through 
Swamp,  34  ;  at  Spanish  Fort,  58. 

Twenty-third  Iowa,  144, 156. 

Twenty-third  Wisconsin,  Loss  in,  181. 

TYSON,  Lieut,  commands  Naval  Battery,  18. 


UPTON,  Gen. ,  Cavalry  Division  of,  243  ;  Skirmish 
near  Montevallo,  246 ;  Scouts  capture  De 
spatches,  248  ;  in  Bittle  of  Etenezer  Church, 
251  ;  at  Selma,  253-255. 


VAN  ANDA,  Lieut.-Col.,  42, 
VAN  LIEU w,  Capt..  82. 
VEACH,  Lieut.  J.  J.,  261. 


276 


INDEX. 


VEATCH,  Gen.,  Division  marches  to  Fish  River.  33  ; 
at  Spanish  Fort,  79  ;  moves  with  Supplies, 
120  ;  before  B.akely,  170,  172  ;  notified  to  Ad 
vance,  192  ;  in  Assault,  211-213. 

Vermont  (seo  Number  of  Regiment). 

Victories,  Influence  of  Industry  and  Instruction  in 
Securing,  243. 

VITQUAIN,  Lieut.-Col.  Victor,  24,  169,  182  ;  in  As 
sault,  202,  203. 

VINEYARD,  Lieut.  Henrv,  Gallant  Conduct  of.  152, 
153, 154. 


W 

WAKD,  Col.,  Brigade  of,  51, 159. 

WARNER.  Lieut.,  205. 

Washington,  Artillery  at  Spanish  Fort,  131. 

Waterloo  (Tenn  ),  Cavalry  Camp  at,  243. 

WATS-N,  Cipt.  C.,  leads  Sortie,  85. 

WATTS,  Lieut.,  113. 

WEBBER,  Co!. ,  at  Blakely,  169. 

WELSCE,  J..  Expertness  as  Gunuer,  228. 

WERE,  Capt.,  79. 

Western    Shore    (Mobile    Bay),    Demonstration 

on,  36. 

Wharf,  Repair  of,  at  Pensacola,  96,  97. 
WHBATON,  Liaut.-Col.  L..  in  Assault,  212. 
WHEELEK,  Corporal  J.,  killed  at  Blakely,  215. 
WHITE,    Lieut  -Col.    F.,     Charge    at     Ebenezer 

Church,  250. 
WHITNEY,  Lieut. ,  180. 

EY,  Lieut.-Col.,  at  Blakely,  173. 

Plantation,  Skirmish  at,  118. 


WILLIAMS,  Lieut. -Col.  J.  M  ,  51,  89, 148. 

WILLIAMS,  Lieut.,  130. 

WILLMMS,  Mr.,  106. 

WILSON,  Capt.  S.  R.,  killed  at  Blakely,  201. 

WILSON,  Gen.  J.  H.,  Cavalry  Operations  of,  241 ; 
Organization  of  Column,  243  :  Marches,  244  ; 
at  Elyton,  detaches  Croxtou's  Brigade,  246  ; 
Victory  at  Ebenezer  Church,  250,  151 ;  cap 
tures  Selma,  253-255  ;  Interview  with  Forrest 
at  Cahawba,  257  ;  Column  leaves  Selma,  258. 
259  ;  Observations  on  his  Raid,  266,  267. 

WIMMER,  Capt.  W.  P.,  81, 131  ;  moves  to  Blakely, 
144  ;  Effective  Fire  on  Gunboats,  187. 

Winnebago  (Gunboat) ,  67. 

WINSLOW,  Gen.  E.  F..  Brigade  of,  247  ;  at  Ehene- 
zer  Church,  251  ;  commands  Selma.  256. 

WINTER,  Maj.,  at  Blakely,  175,  218. 

Wisconsin,  (see  Number  of  Regiment). 

WISNER,  Capt.,  202. 

WOOD,  Capt.,  217. 

WOODS,  Maj.  W.  W.,  247. 

Works,  Regiments  to  cover  Front  with,  30. 


YANCEY,  his  Visit  to  Mobile,  9. 
YOUNG,  Col.  J.  M.,  at  Monte vallo,  247. 


ZACHARIE,  Col.,  covers  Retreat,  147. 


SECOND  EDITION,  WITH  NEW  MATTER  IN  PREFACE. 
F>RIGB.    $2.SO. 

Sent  free  by  mail,  post-paid,  on  receipt  of  price. 


HISTORY    OF    THE 

CAMPAIGN  OF  MOBILE, 

Including   the  Co-operative    Operations  of  General 
Wilson's  Cavalry  in  Alabama. 

BY  BREVET  MAJOR-GENERAL  C.  C.  ANDREWS, 

Late  Commanding  the  Second  Division,  Thirteenth  Army  Corps,  U.  S.  Vols. 
One  Vol.  8vo,  cloth,  pp.  284. 

Contains  a  fine  portrait  of  Major-General  Edward  R.  S. 

Canby,  five  military  maps  elegantly  engraved  on 

copperplate,   and  five   beautiful  sketches 

showing  the    ground  at  Spanish 

Fort  and  Blakely. 


"  General  Andrews  has  given  us  one  of  the  few  careful  and  really  valuable 
narratives  of  military  operations  which  have  been  published  since  the  war."  — 
Boston  Dnily  Advertiser. 

"  Its  charm  lies  in  its  very  simplicity  and  clearness.  Here  and  there  little 
quiet  touches  of  camp  life,  a  brief  description  of  scenery,  and  a  spicy  anecdote 
enliven  the  daily  report  of  siege  operations,  skirmishes,  and  battles."  —  Chicago 
Daily  Tribune. 

"  We  will  enter  with  a  lighter  heart  on  the  pleasant  task  of  paying  to 
Major-General  Andrews  our  sincere  compliments  for  his  candor,  sincerity,  and 
impartiality.1"  —  Mobile  Daily  Times. 

"  General  Andrews  has  evidently  aimed  to  give  an  impartial  account  of  the 
operations  in  which  he  was  engaged,  and  instead  of  a  self-glorifying  narrative 
he  has  executed  his  task  with  a  modesty  and  personal  reticence  which  arc 
almost  culpable.  .  .  .  The  maps  and  illustrations  are  beautifully  ex 
ecuted."  —  Daily  Advertiser,  Mobile. 

"  A  campaign  which  Stanton  pronounced  to  be  one  of  the  most  'important 
brilliant  of  the  war.'     .     .     . 
in  the  movement,  is  a  trustworthy 

"  Instructive  and  agreeable  to  the  general  reader."  —  Washington  Chronicle- 

"A  careful,  minute,  conscientious,  and  modest  study  of  one  of  the  neatest 
and  most  important  single  operations  of  the  war."  —  Army  and  Navy  Journal. 


and  brilliant  of  the  war.'     .     .     .    And  General  Andrews,  as  a  division  genera^ 
orth    historian  of  the  events.''  —  N<  ic  York  World 


B.  VAN  NOSTRAND  COMPANY,  Publishers, 
23  Murray  and  27  Warren  Sts.,  New  York. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 

Fine  schedule:  25  cents  on  first  day  overdue 

50  cents  on  fourth  day  overdue 
One  dollar  on  seventh  day  overdue. 


MAY    6     1947 

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AU6  1  0  1995 


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1VED 
1  2  1996 

ULATION  DEPT. 


>~>  / 


